THE 

SHEPHERDESS 
OF  LOURDES 

OR 

THE  BLIND  PRINCESS 
A  DRAMA  IN  FIVE  ACTS 


BY 
V.  REV.  F.  FELIX,  O.S.B.,  D  D. 

Author   of   "Walburga,"    "Poritia,"    "Patricia.' 


FIFTH  EDITION 


JOHN  MURPHY  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 

200  W.  LOMBARD  STREET  BALTIMORE.  MD. 


PONTIA 

THE  DAUGHTER  OF  PILATE 
DRAMA  IN  FOUR  ACTS 

By  V.  REV.  F.  FELIX,  O.S  B  ,  D  D 

Author  of  "Walburga,"  "Shepherdess  of  Lourdes,"  "Patricia." 

ADAPTED  FOR  FEMALE  CHARACTERS 

r   my    play    "WALIU'KOA"    had   been    i>  -fully 

rendered    and    received    by    tlie    public,    J   was  nr<_red  to   write 
another.       J.y  chance  I   found  an  old   book   in  our  .Monastery 
Library,  in  which  a  short  legend,  entitled   "] 
my  attention.      A  careful  perusal  ollered  m. 
the  plot  of  tin1  drama.—  The  Author. 

12  Mo.  Paper  Cover  25  Cents  Net 


The  Shepherdess  of  Lourdes 

OR 

THE  BLIND  PRINCESS 
A  DRAMA  IN  FIVE  ACTS 

By  V.  REV.  F.  FELIX,  O.S.B.,  D.D. 

Author  of    "Walburga,"    "Pontla,"    "Patricia." 

ADAPTED  FOR  FEMALE  CHARACTERS 

The  famous  shrine  of  Our  Lady    of    Lourdes    c<>ntit, 
attract    the    attention    of  the    Christian    world.       The   faithful 
have  in   both    HemispL  ..)    (irnttoes    similiar    to 

jrrand  original  in  France,  in  veneration  of  the  Virgin  Immaculate, 
who  there  deigned  to  manifest  herself  to  the  poor  shepherdess, 
liernadette  Smibirons,  in 

A  drama  therefore  representing  the  first  days  of  that   won- 
derful sanctuary  cannot  fail  to  interest  and  pi 

12  Mo  Paper  Cover  25  Cents  Net 

JOHN  MURPHY  COMPANY 

Publishers 
200  W.  LOMBARD  ST.  BALTIMORE.  MD. 


THE 


SHEPHERDESS 
OF  LOURDES 


OR 


THE  BLIND  PRINCESS 


A  DRAMA  IN  FIVE  ACTS 


BY 
V.  REV.  F.  FELIX,  O.S.B.,  D.D. 

Author   of   "Walburga,"    "Pontia."    "Patricia.1 


FIFTH  EDITION 


JOHN  MURPHY  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 
200  W.  LOMBARD  STREET  BALTIMORE,  MD. 


COPYRIGHT  BY  JOHN  MURPHY  COMPANY 


m 

URl 


PREFACE 


The  famous  shrine  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes  con- 
tinues to  attract  the  attention  of  the  Christian  World. 
Thousands  of  Catholics  and  non  Catholics  visit  annually 
the  sacred  Grotto ;  and  extraordinary  cures,  effected 
by  the  use  of  the  miraculous  water,  are  of  daily  occur- 
rence. The  faithful  have,  in  both  hemispheres,  erected 
Grottoes  similar  to  the  grand  original  in  France,  in 
veneration  of  the  Virgin  Immaculate,  who  there  deigned 
to  manifest  herself  to  the  poor  shepherdess,  Berna- 
dette  Soubirons,  in  1858.  A  drama,  therefore,  repre- 
senting the  first  days  of  that  wonderful  sanctuary, 
cannot  fail  to  interest  and  please.  I  have  been  faithful 
to  history  as  far  as  circumstances  permitted.  Though 
I  confess  that  Rosabella,  the  blind  Princess,  whose  cure 
is  so  realistically  presented,  is  not  an  historic  character, 
yet  many  similar  miracles  have  been  authenticated,  so 
that  truth  will  not  suffer.  For  the  leading  idea  in  the 
play  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Robert  Weissenhofer  who, 
in  German,  published  a  similar  one,  which  was  grate- 
fully received  by  the  public  in  Europe. 

I  dedicate  this  drama  to  the  Immaculate  Mother,  and 
to  a  little  band  of  her  children  in  North  Carolina  — .the 
pupils  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Academy,  at  Belmont. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS 

BERNADETTE,  the  Shepherdess. 
LOUISA,  Her  Mother. 
ELENORA,  Princess  of  Valencia. 
ROSABELLA,  Her  Blind  Daughter. 
LUCILLA,  Her  Younger  Daughter. 
LAURINDA,  a  Governess. 
ANTONIA, 


, ,  f  Ladies  of  the  Palace. 

MlNA, 

GERTRUDE,  Castle  Keeper's  Wife. 

AGNES,    ~| 

STELLA,   \  Her  Daughters. 

TERESA,   ) 

MME.  MASSAY,  the  Governor's  Wife. 

MME.  DOZONS,  the  Physician's  Wife. 

MLLE.  VERGEZ,  Niece  of  Mme.  Massay. 

ISABELLA,  Gertrude's  Friend. 

LYDIA,  Gypsy  Girl. 

MARIE,  Bernadette's  Younger  Sister. 

JOSEPHA, 

VChildren  of  Lourdes. 
INEZ, 

HELEN, 

Eight  Angels,  one  Guardian  Angel,  Girls 
and  Ladies  from  Lourdes. 


o 


STAGE  DIRECTIONS 

A  grotto  or  cave  can  easily  be  erected  in  the  rear  of  any  stage  by 
using  dark  or  gray  canvas.  The  Virgin  in  Acts  I  and  III  may  be  repre- 
sented by  a  young  lady  dressed  as  the  Madonna  of  Lourdes.  A  statue 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  is  necessary  for  Act  V ;  however,  any  statue  of 
the  Holy  Mother  would  answer  the  purpose.  Rosabella  is  supposed  to 
be  fourteen  years  old  —  the  age  of '  Bernadette.  Simplicity  in  action  is 
required.  As  a  blind  girl  she  may  wear  dark  glasses,  which  she  leaves 
in  the  cave  whilst  apparently  bathing  her  eyes  in  Act  III.  No  institute 
should  find  difficulties  to  render  this  drama  with  but  medium  talent. 


THE  SHEPHERDESS  OF  LOURDES 

ACT  I 

SCENE. — Garden  or  forest  scene. — Background  repre- 
sents the  Grotto  of  Lourdes. — In  the  rocks  a  large 
cave. 

[Eight  little  ANGELS  kneel,  facing  the  empty  cave. 
Music  plays  solemnly  as  the  curtain  is  lifted. 

Red  Light.  When  BERNADETTE  begins  to  speak,  the 
ANGELS  slow'ly  withdraw  behind  the  wings  on 
both  sides  of  the  stage.] 

Bernadette  [behind  the  scenes,  slowly].  Only  the 
small  path,  and  we  have  reached  the  spot.  Be  brave, 
mother,  and  follow  me.  Here  it  is  dangerous ;  so,  be 
careful  now. 

Louisa.  Take  good  care  of  yourself,  daughter ;  I 
am  safe. 

Enter  BERNADETTE  and  LOUISA. 

Bernadette.  Here  we  are  at  last,  good  mother,  in 
the  holy,  heaven-blessed  abode  of  spirits.  Oh,  mother ! 
do  you  feel  the  happiness,  the  joy  of  this  place ;  can  you 
breathe  the  celestial  odor?  I  always  imagine  that  a 
choir  of  angels  must  here  have  their  dwelling. 

Louisa.  Is  this  the  cave,  daughter ;  and  here  you  saw 
the  vision  ? 

Bernadette.  Yes ;  there,  there,  mother — from  within 
those  rocks  she  comes.  Oh,  corl.l  you  only  see  her! 

5 


O  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Louisa.    Strange!    I  never  knew  such  a  place  was' 
near  our  home.   See  the  rough  rocks,  the  ivy  and  moss- 
covered   cave;   yonder   the   peaceful   Gave   streaming 
along  its  usual  course  —  beautiful,  mysterious.     How 
does  the  lady  look  who  appeared  to  you,  daughter? 

Bernadette.  Oh,  she  was  heavenly  fair !  Mother,  I 
cannot  describe  her  beauty ;  in  my  life  I  have  never 
seen  anything  half  as  beautiful  as  she  was. 

Louisa.  Oh,  you  dreamed,  Bernadette,  you  dreamed ! 

Bernadette.  Dreamed !  Never !  My  two  eyes  are 
witness  to  what  I  have  seen ;  my  whole  self,  trans- 
formed in  sweet  ecstasy,  has  felt  this  heavenly  being. 
Marie,  my  sister,  was  with  me  and  Jeane — we  gathered 
wood  here  in  this  place — when  suddenly  this  vision 
came  upon  me. 

Louisa.   But  neither  of  them  have  seen  anything. 

Bernadette.  They  saw  nothing.  Oh,  that  I  alone 
should  have  been  so  favored !  Yet  they  were  not  with 
me  then,  dear  mother;  I  was  here  alone.  We  had  to 
cross  the  water  to  reach  yonder  banks,  and  I  sat  down 
here  to  take  off  my  shoes ;  when  suddenly  I  heard  the 
rushing  wind.  Then  the  Angelus  bell  rang  in  our  little 
village  church.  I  knelt  down  to  say  my  Ave,  and  had 
scarcely  begun:  "Hail,  full  of  grace,"  when,  lo! — 
mother,  can  you  believe  it? — a  woman  of  incomparable 
splendor  stood  upright  within  the  cave,  in  the  midst  of 
an  unearthly  brightness.  Oh,  mother,  believe  me !  she 
was  no  mere  phantom ;  but  life  and  reality.  She  was 
quite  young,  and  had  features  of  superhuman  beauty. 
Never  have  I  seen  such  beautiful  eyes,  or  such  a  fair 
countenance.  Her  garments,  mother,  must  have  been 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  7 

woven  in  heaven ;  they  were  purer  than  the  lilies  of  the 
valley,  and  as  white  as  the  stainless  mountain  snow. 
Her  robe  was  long,  and  on  her  bare  feet  rested  two 
golden  roses.  In  front,  a  girdle — 'blue  as  heaven, 
mother  —  falling  in  two  long  bands  nearly  to  her  feet. 
A  white  veil  was  fixed  around  her  head,  and  fell  in 
ample  folds  to  her  shoulders.  She  wore  neither  ring, 
necklace,  nor  crown;  but  on  her  arm  hung  a  chaplet, 
with  beads  as  white  as  drops  of  milk,  strung  on  a 
golden  chain.  Her  hands  were  fervently  clasped,  as 
if  in  prayer.  All  this  I  saw,  mother;  yet  no  one  could 
describe  her  beauty. 

Louisa.  And  what  did  you  do,  child  ? 

Bernadette.  I  took  my  little  rosary  in  my  hands,  and 
prayed  loud  and  fervently :  "Hail,  Mary,  full  of  grace." 
And  when  I  had  finished  the  decades,  the  white  lady 
disappeared.  I  heard  nothing  then  but  the  murmurs  of 
the  Gave  passing  over  the  rocks  and  pebbles.  I  had 
been  in  heaven,  mother,  and  now  I  was  on  earth  once 
more.  These  poor  rocks  looked  then  so  sadly  upon  me, 
and  I  wept.  I  called  Marie  and  Jeane  —  they  were 
gone;  they  thought  I  was  praying. 

Louisa.   And  who  do  you  think  the  lady  was? 

Bernadette.  Mother,  do  not  ask  me  this  question; 
you  might  think  me  presumptuous. 

Louisa.   But  I  demand  an  answer. 

Bernadette  [with  downcast  eyes  and  trembling]. 
Our  Blessed  Lady. 

Louisa.  Truly  you  are  presumptuous,  girl.  How 
can  you,  a  poor  shepherdess,  expect  such  a  favor. 
Surely  you  were  deceived,  daughter;  such  thoughts 
should  not  enter  your  mind.  I  am  ashamed  of  you. 


8  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Bernadctte  [confused].  Forgive  me,  mother,  for 
saying  so ;  but  could  you  feel  my  little  heart  —  how  it 
beats !  It  may  have  been  my  guardian  angel.  And 
yesterday,  mother,  I  stole  away  from  home  and  came 
here — I  had  some  holy  water  with  me.  I  prayed ;  and 
again  the  white  lady  appeared.  I  said:  "If  you  come 
on  the  part  of  God,  approach" ;  and  threw  holy  water 
at  the  vision.  I  could  say  no  more,  mother;  and 
imagine,  the  apparition  smiled  a  heavenly  smile,  mother 
— such  as  angels  smile.  She  looked  upon  me  so  kindly, 
so  gently,  that  great  big  tears  ran  down  my  cheeks.  I 
felt  so  ashamed  of  myself,  so  little,  mother. 

Louisa.  That  will  do.  You  must  drive  these  thoughts 
from  you ;  you  are  becoming  a  dreamer.  I  will  send 
you  to  your  aunt  on  the  mountains.  Work  will  soon 
change  your  mind. 

Bernadette.  Whenever  you  wish  to  send  me,  I  am 
willing  to  go,  mother ;  but  I  cannot  believe  that  I  was 
dreaming,  nor  that  I  saw  nothing  uncommon,  for 
either  would  be  deception.  Oh,  would  that  one  ray  of 
that  heavenly  light,  which  appeared  to  me  here,  could 
be  visible  to  you  —  you  would  believe  me. 

Louisa.  Be  it  as  it  may.  It  is  nearly  sunset ;  so  let 
us  return  home.  Come! 

Bernadette.  Mother  —  I  cannot  call  you  anything 
sweeter  than  this  lovely  name,  '"mother" — grant  your 
daughter  one  request. 

Louisa.   Speak,  daughter. 

Bernadette.  Let  me  remain  here,  only  for  a  little 
while  longer.  Oh,  mother!  if  you  could  feel  as  I  do ; 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  Q 

if  you  could  look  into  my  very  soul,  and  perceive  that 
yearning  and  that  desire  to  remain,  feel  that  happiness 
which  I  experience — that  inexpressible  joy!  [Falls  on 
her  knees.]  In  the  name  of  the  Blessed  Mother,  who 
deigned  to  appear  to  your  unworthy  daughter,  let  me 
remain  here. 

Louisa.    You  are  bold  in  making  such  a  request. 

Arise !  and  do  not  speak  in  such  terms  of  your  sup- 
posed vision. 

Bcrnadette.  They  are  not  my  words ;  something  in 
me  speaks  to  you.  Let  me  remain,  I  beseech  you. 

Louisa.  Well — remain,  then. 

[BERNADETTE  arises  and  falls  on  her  neck.} 

Bernadettc.  A  thousand  thanks,  mother,  dear ;  a 
thousand  thanks.  May  heaven  reward  you.  I  shall  be 
home  shortly  after  the  Angelus  tolls.  Now  let  me  help 
you  to  descend  these  rocky  paths. 

Louisa  [looks  around  once  more].  Poor  deceived 
creature,  something  must  have  charmed  you.  Well, 
we  will  see.  [They  depart,  BERNADETTE  leading  her 
mother.] 

VILLAGE  CHILDREN  enter  from  opposite  side  of  the 
stage.  One  carries  a  bundle  of  rough  wood;  others, 
sin  all  baskets. 

Marie.    Come,  come,  girls,  here  is  an  open  place. 
Come,  girls,  here  we  can  play. 
Josepha.  How  lovely  it  is  here ;  see  the  rocks ! 


IO  THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Marie  [in  astonishment].  Oh,  girls!  this  is  the  place 
where  sister  saw  the  white  ghost  a  few  days  ago. 

All.   Ghost !  a  ghost ! 

Marie.  Yes,  surely ;  sitting  on  the  rocks,  over  there. 

Inez.  You  frighten  us. 

All.   Let  us  go !  Marie,  please  let  us  go. 

Marie.  No,  stay,  stay ;  the  ghost  was  a  good  one, 
and  would  hurt  no  one.  Let  us  sit  down. 

Helen.  No,  let  us  play  something,  Marie. 

All.  What? 

Josepha.  "Hide  and  seek,"  or  anything  else.  Let  us 
dance. 

Marie.   But  don't  come  near  yonder  rocks. 

[She  walks  up  to  the  cave.  They  give  a  short 
dance.  Music.  MARIE  returning,  and  speaking 
slow  and  solemn.] 

No,  no !  do  not  dance  here,  girls.  Pray  do  not  dance 
here. 

All  [stopping].  Why  not? 

Marie.  I  don't  know;  but  something — [Looks  shyly 
about.] 

All.  What's  the  matter? 

Marie.   It's  all  over  now.   Come,  let  us  sit  down. 

[All  sit  around  MARIE.] 

I  think  my  sister  Bernadette  will  soon  come ;  I  heard 
her  voice  down  near  the  saw-mill.  She  will  tell  us  all 
she  has  seen  here. 


THE   SHEPHERDESS    OF   LOURDES  II 

Amalia.   Don't  frighten  us  so. 

Inez.  Perhaps  some  one  was  killed  here  long  ago, 
that  a  poor  soul  comes  back  asking  for  prayers ;  they 
often  do. 

Josepha.  Yes,  yes,  you  remember  <  poor  Eliza's  boy, 
who  drowned  in  the  miller's  pond ;  he  came  back,  they 
say. 

Helen.  My  mother  swears  that  she  hears  someone 
knocking  on  our  back  door  every  midnight. 

Amalia.  I  am  afraid  ever  since  my  grandfather  died. 
You  can  never  make  me  go  into  that  room  alone. 

Marie.  Foolish  girls,  there  are  no  ghosts  here ;  so 
that's  all.  Now  stop  your  foolish  talk,  and  sing  with 
me  a  hymn;  in  this  way  we  can  spend  the  time  best, 
and  arrange  our  flowers  and  ferns. 

[They  sing^.] 

As  the  dewy  shades  of  even' 

Gather  o'er  the  balmy  air, 
Listen,  gentle  Queen  of  Heaven, 

Listen  to  our  evening  prayer. 
Holy  Mother,  near  us  hover, 

Free  our  thoughts  from  aught  denied; 
With  thjr  wings  of  mercy  cover, 

Safe  from  harm,  thy  helpless  child. 

Towards  the  end,  BERNADETTE  enters.    She  claps  her 
hands.    CHILDREN  arise,  surround  BERNADETTE  and 

say: 

All.   Bernadette!    Oh,  Bernadette! 

Bernadette.    Good,   good,   children ;   you   could   not 

have  found  a  sweeter  place  than  this  for  such  a  lovely 


12 


song.  Your  angels  must  rejoice,  listening  to  your 
prayers.  Marie,  mother  is  waiting  for  you  near  the 
mill ;  she  is  speaking  to  Jeane,  who  wants  to  see  you. 

Marie.  Will  you  not  return  with  us ;  it  is  growing 
late. 

Bernadcttc.  No,  girls — Oh  !  what  shall  I  tell  them  ? 
no,  girls,  I  wish  to  remain  here,  all  alone.  I  love  this 
spot,  and  that  cave ;  I  wish  to  say  my  rosary.  You  will 
be  good  children,  and  leave  me  alone,  will  you  not  ? 

Josepha.  Let  us  say  the  rosary  with  you. 

Bernadette  [confused}.  Not  now  girls,  dear,  your 
mothers  would  look  for  you ;  it  is  late,  and  I  would 
receive  the  blame  for  detaining  you.  You  would  not 
wish  me  to  be  blamed,  would  you  ? 

All.   No,  Bernadette,  you  are  always  so  good. 

Bernadette.  Well,  then,  go  home,  and  say  your 
rosary  at  home ;  and  tomorrow  you  can  all  come  to 
our  garden,  and  I  will  give  each  one  a  bunch  of  straw- 
berries. 

All.   Strawberries  !  That's  nice ! 

Inez.  Come,  children,  let  us  leave  Bernadette  and 
return  home. 

All.  Let  us  go  home. 

[They  take  their  little  baskets;  AM  ALIA,  a  bundle 
of  wood.] 

Bernadete.  See,  see  how  diligent  Amalia  was ;  she 
has  gathered  a  big  bundle  of  wood. 

All.   But  we  helped  her ! 

Bernadette.  That's  good !  Now  help  her  carry  it 
home. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  13 

Marie.  Come  home  soon,  sister. 

Bernadette.   Good-bye,  girls. 

All.  Good-bye ;  we  will  see  you  tomorrow. 

[They  leave  the  stage  very  noisily;  talking,  and  at 
times  screaming:  "Look  out,"  etc.,  till  they  are 
far  off.} 

Bernadette  [watching  the  children  departing}.  Poor 
children,  there  is  nothing  extraordinary  to  them  in 
this  spot.  Here  they  play  and  sing,  here  they  tell  their 
little  stories.  And  to  me  every  stone  is  sacred  ;  the  very 
soil  upon  which  I  tread,  consecrated.  I  brought  my 
mother  here,  today,  at  her  own  request — I  permit  no 
secret  between  her  and  myself.  But  she  disbelieves 
me,  she  mocks  me,  she  threatens  to  send  me  back  to 
the  Pyrenees  to  watch  the  cattle ;  for  which  I  am  better 
suited,  she  says.  Maybe.  But  David  was  a  shepherd 
boy,  and  he  became  the  ruler  of  his  nation.  Mary,  a 
poor  virgin  of  Galilee,  was  called  to  be  God's  mother. 
Joan  of  Arc,  as  a  shepherdess,  heard  supernatural 
voices ;  and  she  delivered  our  country  and  king,  and 
crowned  him  at  Rheims.  But  why  such  thoughts? 
Pride,  wicked  pride  has  prompted  these.  Bernadette, 
beware  of  deceit,  fear  sin,  and  remain  the  humble 
maiden  of  the  Pyrenees.  I  was  happy  when,  on  the 
everlasting  hills,  I  sought  pasture  for  my  sheep — they 
were  my  sole  companions ;  shared  my  sorrow  and  my 
joy — and  with  the  birds  I  sang  and  played.  I  was 
happy  then.  To  God  I  gave  my  heart  in  prayer;  and 
with  the  rising  and  the  setting  sun  I  greeted  Him,  beg- 
ging Him  to  protect  His  lonely  child.  These  days  are 


14  THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

gone.  I  am  now  a  dreamer,  a  visionary;  possibly,  a 
young  witch.  People  point  their  fingers  at  me,  and  call 
me  mad.  My  father's  hut  will  soon  be  closed  to  me,  if 
I  persist  in  telling  the  truth.  May  God  help  poor 
Bernadette,  the  shepherdess  of  Lourdes.  The  sun  is 
bidding  the  day  farewell.  Soon  the  harmonious  sounds 
of  the  Angelus  bell  will  vibrate  through  this  peaceful 
valley.  The  day  is  done;  how  I  tremble.  Poor  little 
heart !  Why  this  fright,  Bernadette  ?  Can  it  be  pos- 
sible; will  she  come  again?  [Turns  to  the  grotto.]  Oh, 
blessed  grotto !  happy  abode  of  unknown  spirits,  the 
mystical  dove  has  left  the  heavenly  abode,  she  dwelt 
here — rested  her  virgin  feet  upon  the  ivy-clad  rocks, 
nestled  in  the  mystic  crevice.  Come,  my  fair  one,  my 
love,  my  dove ! 

[The  Angelus  bell  rings  at  Lourdes.  A  brilliant 
light  fills  the  entire  grotto.  BERNADETTE  falls 
on  her  knees  and  says,  loud  and  distinctly:] 

Hail — Mary — full — of — grace — the — Lord — is — with 
— thee. 

[Music  plays  softly.   The  "White  Lady"  appears. 

CURTAIN. 


ACT  II 

SCENE. — In  the  castle  of  the  Prince  of  Valencia,  at 
San  Sebastiano,  Spain.  A  luxuriously  furnished 
apartment  in  the  palace. — ROSABELLA  sits  in  an  arm- 
chair, plays  the  guitar  or  mandolin  as  the  curtain 
rises.  She  then  kisses  the  instrument,  and  says: 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  15 

Rosabella.  Happy  little  friend,  in  my  endless  misery ! 
How  often  you  gladden  the  dreary  heart,  ever  faithful 
companion  of  mine!  [Rises  slowly.]  Oh,  the  name- 
less wretchedness  of  a  blind  creature !  No  ray  of  sunny 
lightness  ever  penetrates  my  heart ;  I  wander  in  per- 
petual darkness.  All  the  beauty  that  a  loving  Father 
has  bestowed  on  earth  and  its  children  is  unknown  to 
me — night  is  day,  and  day  is  night,  ever  since  I  first 
breathed  God's  air  in  this  valley  of  woe.  Gladly  would 
I  exchange  the  princely  splendor,  that  is  said  to  sur- 
round me,  for  the  humblest  hovel  of  a  peasant  in  the 
rugged  mountains,  could  I  receive  sight.  What  enjoy- 
ment can  this  be  for  the  blind  Princess  of  Valencia? 
And  what  makes  me  more  despondent,  is  the  fact  that 
I  have  saddened  my  parents'  life.  They  vtare  ashamed 
of  me;  my  mother  hides  me  away  where  no  one  ever 
dreams  of  my  existence,  except,  perhaps,  in  a  sym- 
pathetic allusion  to  the  blind  senorita.  I  have  dis- 
graced the  proud  line  of  the  house  of  Valencia,  though 
by  no  fault  of  mine.  Since  my  father's  death  I  am 
known,  at  least  in  law,  as  the  heiress  of  these  vast 
domains ;  but  what  use  is  all  this  to  me  ?  Oh,  good 
God!  is  there  no  remedy  for  me?  [Sits  down  and 
weeps.  ] 

Enter  LAURINDA. 

Laurinda.  Senorita  in  tears  again !  Why  this  sorrow, 
and  why  the  tears  ?  . 

Rosabella.  Nothing  unusual,  dear  Laurinda ;  my  old 
misery  is  crushing  me  again. 


l6  fHE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES 

Laurinda.  Shake  off  this  despondency,  Senorita ;  the 
Princess  of  Valencia  need  not  weep. 

Rosabella.  If  she  is  blind,  others  might  weep  for  her. 

Laurinda.  Senorita  speaks  wisely ;  my  heart  is  deeply 
moved  at  your  wretchedness.  Every  hour  of  my  life  I 
compassionate  the  Princess. 

Rosabella.  I  am  aware  of  that,  dear  Laurinda,  and 
your  sympathy  soothes  and  relieves ;  but  she  who  most 
should  love  me,  loves  me  the  least — by  her  I  am  treated 
as  an  outcast  in  my  own.  Since  my  father's  death, 
harshness  increases,  and  I  fear  it  will  kill  — 

Laurinda.  There  is  an  All-avenging  God,  my  Seno- 
rita. Providence  may  have  happier  days  in  store  for 
you ;  your  mother's  heart  may  change — but  change,  it 
scarcely  will ! 

Rosabella.  Unless  our  .common  God  will  touch  these 
closing  lids,  and  bid  me  bathe  my  eyes  in  Shiloh's 
waters,  that  I  may  see — perhaps  then — 

Laurinda.  Her  own  might  open  to  see  her  malice ; 
she  is  a  wicked  woman. 

Rosabella.  Laurinda,  do  not  speak  in  such  terms  of 
the  Princess,  for  she  is  my  mother. 

Laurinda.    Yes,  true,  but  has  the  Senorita  heard 
her  parent's  last  edict? 

Rosabella.  Speak,  speak,  Laurinda!  What  does  it 
mean? 

Laurinda.  For  Senorita  to  be  transported  to  the 
royal  asylum  for  the  blind,  and  Lucilla  to  be  sent  to 
Madrid  to  attend  school. 

Rosabella.   Why  these  sudden  changes? 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  17 

Laurinda.  That  Senora,  the  Princess  of  Valencia, 
may  enjoy  her  life  without  the  burden  of  a  blind  and 
feeble  maiden. 

Rosabella.  That  is  folly !  Have  I  ever  hindered  any 
one's  enjoyment?  How  could  a  poor  blind  girl  do  so? 

Laurinda.  By  no  fault  of  hers,  to  be  sure. 

Enters  MINA. 

Mina.  Princess  Rosabella,  our  august  Senora  com- 
mands that  Lucilla  be  brought  here ;  her  ladyship 
desires  to  be  present  at  an  entertainment  to  be  given 
in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Cadiz,  this  evening. 

Rosabella.  If  Senora,  my  mother  commands,  I  joy- 
fully obey.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  have  my  sister  with 
me. 

Mina.   Very  well,  Senorita.    [Departs.} 

Rosabella.  I  am  happy  that  Lucilla  is  permitted  to 
come  to  me;  we  shall  have  a  pleasant  evening.  But 
there  is  some  one  else  whose  company  I  would  enjoy. 
[Rings  bell.] 

Enter  ANTONIA. 

Antonia.   Senorita  has  called  me? 

Rosabella.  Antonia,  you  will  convey  to  my  nurse, 
Gertrude,  my  highest  esteem,  and  bid  her  visit  me  this 
evening. 

Antonia.    Pardon,  Senorita,  her  ladyship  has  given  ~> 
contrary  orders  le~T«€. 

Rosabella.  But  not  to  Gertrude,  so  let  a  messenger 
run  the  errand  as  soon  as  her  ladyship  has  departed. 

Antonia.   Very  well.  [Exit. 


l8  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Laurinda.  How  happy  good  Gertrude  will  be.  But 
here  comes  Princess  Lucilla. 

Enter  LUCILLA. 

Lucilla.  Good-evening,  darling  sister.  [Kisses  her.] 
I  am  very,  very  glad  to  be  permitted  to  come  to  you  this 
evening;  I  have  a  great  piece  of  news  to  bring  you. 

Rosabella.   I  have  heard  it ;  Laurinda  told  me  all. 

Lucilla.  Surely  she  has  not  heard  what  I  have  heard 
— something  wonderful  and  great. 

Rosabella.  You  are  always  living  in  fairy-lands,  and 
bring  me  fairy-tales — to  cheer  me,  no  doubt. 

Lucilla.  But  not  this  evening,  sister;  no  fairy-tales 
these. 

Rosabella.  Then  come  and  tell  me. 
[LUCILLA  leads  ROSABELLA  to  a  sofa.] 

Lucilla.  The  whole  city  is  in  excitement,  sister,  over 
an  apparition  of  our  Blessed  Mother. 

Rosabella  [makes  the  sign  of  the  cross] .  Apparition 
of  our  Blessed  Mother!  Speak,  child,  speak! 

Lucilla.  .Beyond  the  Pyrenees,  sister,  there  is  a  small 
town  near  the  borders  of  France  and  Spain — I  relate 
it  as  correctly  as  I  know  and  understand  it — from  here, 
perhaps,  a  hundred  miles  distant,  they  say.  The  place 
is  called  Lourdes.  There,  on  the  eleventh  of  February, 
just  two  weeks  ago,  our  Blessed  Mother  appeared  to  a 
shepherd-girl,  in  the  rocks  of  a  cave.  She  is  so 
beautiful  and  so  grand,  and  speaks  so  lovingly  —  the 
Madonna.  She  has  appeared  nearly  ten  times  to  the 
same  girl. 

Rosabella.   Where  have  you  heard  this  news? 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  IQ 

Lucilla.  From  Gertrude  and  her  children — they  were 
down  in  the  city  today — besides,  the  daily  papers  have 
it  all. 

Enter  PRINCESS  ELENORA,  unperceived. 

Laurinda.  This  will  account  for  a  passage  in  the 
letter  I  received  today  from  my  uncle,  the  Bishop  of 
Tarbes,  to  which  diocese  Lourdes  belongs. 

[She  opens  letter  and  reads.} 

"Great  things  are  transpiring  at  Lourdes  in  these  days, 
my  Laurinda,  if  all  is  true — as  I  do  not  doubt.  Heaven 
is  smiling  upon  us  and  France." 

Princess  Elenora  [suddenly  all  are  frightened}. 
Great  things,  indeed,  are  transpiring  here  this  evening ; 
and  I  am  fortunate  in  discovering  the  culprits.  1 
wondered  from  whom  my  daughters  receive  their  fair 
training  in  all  the  religious  superstitions  of  the  day; 
and  now  I  have  the  source.  I  shall  take  heed  that  such 
communications  are  prevented  in  future.  Laurinda 
Fountaine,  your  future  service  is  no  longer  wanted  in 
the  castle.  I  give  you  one  day  to  pack  your  fineries 
and  laces,  and  to  depart  from  here.  And  pack  them 
well,  for  remember,  the  Princess  of  Valencia  shall 
make  your  true  character  known  in  all  Spain. 

Laurinda.  Your  ladyship  will  pardon  my  interrup- 
tion. Yes,  I  will  go,  and  leave,  at  your  command,  your 
poor,  neglected,  blind  daughter;  but  fear  not  that 
Laurinda  Fountaine  shall  suffer  want.  The  princely 
houses  of  Spain,  save  that  of  Valencia,  are  too  Catho- 
lic to  listen  to  such  abuse  as  your  ladyship  will  deign 
to  heap  upon  me. 


2O  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Elenora.   Silencio !   I  am  mistress  here. 

Laurinda.  And  I  am  no  slave. 

Elenora.  Silencio,  or  else  you  leave  this  house  to- 
night. 

Laurinda.  To  find  a  brighter  and  happier  home. 

Elenora.  Silencio !  I  command  again ;  and  you 
daughters,  shall  find  other  places,  where  the  least  spark 
of  these  superstitions  will  be  wiped  from  your  minds. 
For  the  night  I  leave  you.  Laurinda  Fountaine,  you  go  ! 

Laurinda.  Adios,  Senorita  Rosabella,  adios. 

[Bows  and  leaves. 

ELENORA  rings  the  bell  violently.  ANTONIA  and  MINA 
appear. 

Elenora.  You  are  ordered  to  keep  strict  watch  over 
these  girls  tonight.  I  may  not  return  till  after  midnight. 

Mina  and  Antonia.  Very  well,  your  ladyship. 

[Departs. 

Rosabella  and  Lucilla  [were  crying  during  the  violent 
burst  of  ELENORA,  and  sat  closely  together;  now  they 
arise  and  say  siveetly  and  quietly:}  Good  night, 
mamma,  good  night.  [She  does  not  answer.] 

Rosabella.   Poor,  poor  Laurinda. 

Lucilla  [turning  to  the  maids].  We  desire  to  be  alone. 

Rosabella.   Antonia !  You  here  ? 

Antonia.   Yes,  Senorita. 

Rosabella.   Do  not  forget  my  request  —  please. 

Antonia.  The  messenger  is  dispatched. 

Rosabella.  Bring  Gertrude  at  once  to  me,  when -she 
arrives. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  21 

Lucilla.  Is  Gertrude  coming?  Oh,  she  can  tell  all 
about  the  apparition !  That's  grand ! 

Rosabella.  Go  to  your  rooms,  ladies,  and  when 
called  come  in  haste. 

Mina  and  Antonia.  Yes,  Senorita.    [Bow  and  depart. 

Lucilla.  Now  we  are  alone.  I  hear  our  mother's 
carriage  passing  [looks]  through  the  court-yard;  she 
is  gone.  Now  listen,  sister.  It  seems  to  be  true  that 
our  Heavenly  Mother  is  appearing  in  France.  So 
many  people  are  going  there,  even  from  Spain ;  and 
many  miracles  are  wrought. 

Rosabella.   Oh  !  could  that  be  so  ? 

Lucilla.  Yes,  a  fountain  has  appeared  at  the  foot  of 
the  grotto ;  and  the  sick  are  healed  —  the  lame  walk, 
the  blind  see,  the  deaf  hear. 

Rosabella.  Oh,  darling  sister!  [draws  her  closely  to 
herself] .  Oh !  could  I  go  there,  I  know,  I  know  that  I 
would  be  healed ! 

Lucilla.  Oh,  that  can  easily  be.  Would  you  trust 
your  little  sister?  [Most  affectionately.}  Rosabella, 
would  you  trust  your  little  sister? 

Rosabella.   Willingly,  joyfully ! 

Lucilla.  If  that  is  so,  listen;  let  us  leave  the  castle 
tonight — we  can  safely  reach  Gertrude's  house  without 
being  seen — and  tomorrow,  early,  before  sunrise,  the 
two  little  pilgrims  will  be  on  the  way  to  Lourdes.  You 
take  your  guitar,  and  both  our  heavy  black  cloaks.  I 
know  no  one  would  recognize  us,  and  no  one  harm  us 
in  Catholic  Spain.  Besides,  we  can  reach  Lourdes  in 
five  days. 


22  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Rosabella.   But  what  would  mother  say? 

Lucilla.  She  would  be  angry,  of  course ;  but  it  would 
not  be  the  first  time,  and  it  soon  will  wear  off.  Besides, 
we  return  again;  and  if  you  come  cured,  she  will  be 
happy. 

Rosabella.  And  we  could  pray  to  make  her  a  good, 
pious  woman,  could  we  not?  We  could  pray  for  her 
conversion  ;  we  could  pray  that  she  may  love  God  again. 

Lucilla.  That  we  can.  God's  ways  are  wonderful ; 
all  might  be  accomplished. 

Rosabella.  But  we  cannot  leave  without  money.  See, 
Lucilla,  how  much  is  in  my  bank ;  here  is  the  key. 

Lucilla  [takes  key,  returns  with  bank  and  opens  it]. 
Oh,  you  are  rich !  Why,  lots  of  gold  in  here — let  me 
see  [counts  money].  This  makes  five  hundred  francs 
— plenty,  plenty!  [Puts  money  in  a  pocket-book]. 

Rosabella.  So  we  need  not  suffer  want ;  in  ten  days 
we  ought  to  be  home  again.  We  must  have  convey- 
ances, of  course. 

Lucilla.  Leave  all  that  to  your  fittfe-sister.  You  are 
blind,  and  I  will  be  guide  in  this  pilgrimage. 

Rosabella.  Oh,  sweet  little  darling!  our  guardian 
angels  will  be  with  us  [tears  roll  doivn  her  checks}. 

Enter  GERTRUDE  with-  AGNES. 

Gertrude.  Good  evening,  Senorita.  Good  evening, 
Rosabella.  Oh,  mi  ninita,  mi  ninita !  why  dost  thou  cry? 

Rosabella.  Come,  good  Gertrude,  take  my  hand 
[takes  and  kisses  it].  Let  me  feel  that  you  are  here 
[feels  her  face].  Oh,  you  are  so  good!  I  am  so  glad 
you  came — rest  yourself. 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  23 

[GERTRUDE  takes  a  chair  close,  ROSABELLA  and 
AGNES  standing.] 

Gertrude.  I  have  always  been  a  mother  to  thee ; 
and  watched  thee  like  my  own  little  Agnes,  whom  I 
nursed  with  thee  in  her  babyhood. 

Rosabella.  Is  Agnes  here? 

Gertrude.  Yes,  darling  ninita,  here  is  thy  sister. 
Come,  be  not  afraid. 

[AGNES  takes  ROSABELLA'S  hand  and  kisses  it.] 

Agnes.   I  pray  that  our  good  Princess  is  well. 

Rosabella.  Yes,  Agnes,  I  am  well  —  very  well. 

Gertrude.  Thou  hast  always  been  well,  ninita. 

Rosabella.  Yes,  yes,  but  as  "blind  as  a  bat,"  they  say. 

Gertrude.  I  dreamt,  last  night,  that  I  saw  thee  open 
thine  eyes.  I  saw  thee  have  beautiful  eyes,  Rosabella ; 
and  I  saw  thee  look  so  happy  and  smile  so  sweetly. 

Lucilla.  Perhaps,  Aunt  Gertrude,  all  will  yet  come 
true. 

Gertrude.  God  bless  thy  little  heart,  if  it  should 
happen. 

Lucilla.  Gertrude,  tell  my  sister  of  the  apparition  of 
the  Madonna  at  Lourdes. 

Gertrude  [blesses  herself],  Yes,  yes,  I  must  tell  thee 
that  our  dear  Mother  appeared  at  Lourdes ;  she  comes 
nearly  every  day  and  speaks  to  a  poor  shepherd-girl. 
She  has  shown  her  a  spring  in  a  cave ;  and  people  wash 
their  sick  hands,  or  feet,  or  eyes  in  it,  and  they  get  well. 
Oh,  if  I  had  thee  there,  Rosabella,  I  believe  my  dream 
of  thee  would  come  true. 

Lucilla.  Suppose  you  let  us  go  there,  or  help  us  get 
there. 


24  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES 

Gertrude.  How  could  I  do  that? 

Lucilla.   By  helping  us  to  leave  the  castle. 

Gertrude.  And  what  would  her  Highness,  the 
Princess,  say? 

Lucilla.    Miss  us,  of  course;  certainly  not  pray  for 
us.     But  she  is  not  home  tonight,  and  we  could  easily 
escape. 
•  Gertrude.   Tonight!    Tonight! 

Rosabella.  Yes,  tonight,  dear  Gertrude. 

Gertrude.   And  who  has  given  thee  such  an  idea  ? 

Rosabella  [arises].  God,  dear  Gertrude,  God;  for  1 
am  convinced  that  He  will  cure  me  if  I  go  to  Lourdes. 

Gertrude.  But  thou  wouldst  disobey  thy  mother, 
ninita. 

Rosabella.  If  I  follow  God's  voice,  I  disobey  no  one; 
and  if  I  have  your  blessing  and  consent,  Gertrude,  I 
shall  fear  nothing.  You  have  been  to  me  a  real  mother. 
In  my  infant  heart  you  implanted  piety  and  love  of 
God  —  from  you  I  have  all  I  so  deeply  cherish  in  my 
religion  [sits  doivn  again]. 

Gertrude.  Be  quiet,  ninita,  be  quiet!  Hold  thine 
little  tongue!  When  thou  wert  only  six  months  old,  1 
carried  thee  with  my  Agnes,  who  is  three  days  older 
than  thou,  to  the  castle  chapel,  and  there  I  consecrated 
you  both  to  our  dear  Lady;  so  thou  art  Mary's  child 
indeed.  Then  thou  art  my  ninita — then  thou  belongest 
to  the  Princess.  But  will  thy  little  feet  take  thee  to 
Lourdes  ? 

Rosabella.  We  need  not  walk  great  distances ;  for  I 
have  money  sufficient. 

Agnes.    Please,  Senorita,  take  me  along  as  a  maid. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  25 

Lucilla.  That's  well,  Agnes,  you  come  with  us — you 
can  do  many  little  things  for  us. 

Gertrude.   And  when  wilt  thou  start? 

Rosabella.  At  once,  Gertrude,  at  once.  The  Princess, 
my  mother,  will  not  reach  the  palace  before  one  in  the 
morning;  she  is  with  her  ladies  at  the  State  reception 
of  the  Duke  of  Cadiz.  Tomorrow,  she  and  they  will 
sleep  till  twelve  at  noon ;  so,  possibly,  she  may  ask  for 
us  by  three  in  the  afternoon — by  that  time,  I  hope  we 
will  have  reached  France. 

Gertrude.  Surely  thou  canst  take  the  mail-coach  at 
three,  tomorrow  morning  —  it  is  a  warm,  moonlight 
night,  —  by  ten  thou  art  in  France.  In  four  days  thou 
oughtest  reach  Lourdes.  But  thou  must  disguise  thyself. 

Lucilla.   We  all  will  [rings  the  bell]. 

Enter  MINA. 

Mina,  please  have  our  long,  black  cloaks  and  big  hats 
sent  to  Gertrude's  house  at  once  —  and  this  guitar. 
Having  given  that  order,  please  return. 

Mina.  Very  well,  Senorita. 

Rosabella.   Mina,  has  Laurinda  retired? 

Mina.  Yes,  she  feels  ill,  and  was  weeping. 

Rosabella.  Do  not  disturb  her.  [Exit  MINA.]  Poor 
Laurinda  was  discharged  today,  Gertrude ;  please  keep 
her  till  we  return  from  Lourdes.  Then  tell  no  one  a 
word  whither  we  are  going;  no  one  is  to  knev/  where 
we  are  [they  rise]. 

Gertrude.  Indeed,  thou  mayest  trust  me,  ninita.  But 
if  thou  returnest  without  being  cured? 


26  THE   SHEPHERDESS  OF   LOURDES 

Rosabella.  My  confidence  is  unshaken,  Gertrude. 
There  is  no  possibility  of  such  an  alternative. 

Gertrude.  Thou  dost  have  faith,  daughter,  strong 
enough  to  move  a  mountain. 

Lucilla.  Let  us  go,  in  the  name  of  God.  We  will 
stay  with  you,  Aunt  Gertrude,  till  tomorrow,  then 
Agnes  will  depart  with  us. 

ROSABELLA  rings  the  bell  twice.    MINA  and  ANTONIA 
enter. 

Rosabella.  Mina  and  Antonia,  are  you  here  ? 

Both.   Yes,  Senorita. 

Rosabella.  One  request  your  poor,  unfortunate,  blind 
mistress  makes  today.  My  sister  and  I  are  going  on  a 
mission  —  strange,  indeed,  but  holy ;  mysterious,  yet 
certain.  I  beg  you,  console  our  mother  if  she  should 
grow  sad  for  having  lost  her  daughters ;  they  shall 
surely  return. 

Both.   Can  it  be  possible !   Can  it  be  possible ! 

Rosabella.  I  shall  reward  both  of  you  on  my  return ; 
and  I  assure  you,  our  castle  will  then  be  a  happy  home. 

Both.   May  God  be  blessed !   But  you  should  not  go. 

Rosabella.    I  must;  so  adios,  dear  girls,  adios. 

Both.  -May  God  protect  you,  then,  Senorita.  [Depart. 

Gertrude.  And  may  thy  holy  Guardian  Angel  be  thy 
guide  on  the  way.  Let  me  bless  you,  child,  instead  of 
your  mother  [makes  the  sign  of  the  cross  on  her  fore- 
head], for  I  have  been  thy  mother.  Fear  nothing.  On 
the  way  to  Lourdes,  speak  to  no  one  —  tell  no  one  thy 
story.  Kiss  the  picture  of  thy  mother  [kisses  the  pic- 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  2J 

ture] ,  and  take  this  medal,  that  nothing  may  harm  thee. 
When  thou  comest  to  Lourdes,  pray  much  and  do  not 
despair  —  God  will  help  thee ! 

Rosabella.  Come  then,  my  sisters  [takes  AGNES  and 
LUCILLA  by  the  hand],  and  let  us  consecrate  our 
Pilgrimage.  [All  three  kneel  down.  No  light.] 

GUARDIAN  ANGEL  appears,  touches  them  on  the  shoul- 
der and  leads  them  away. 

CURTAIN. 


ACT  III 

SCENE. — Grotto  of  Lourdes  as  in  the  First  Act. — Rustic 
benches  in  front. — The  cave  closed  off  by  a  rope 
stretched  across  the  stage  and  marked  with  a  prohi- 
bition.— Fountain,  or  moss-covered  basin  holding 
water,  in  the  cave. — LUCILLA,  AGNES  and  ROSABELLA 
enter  as  the  curtain  rises,  walking  slowly;  the  former 
leads  ROSABELLA. — The  three  children  wear  pilgrim 
cloaks  and  large,  black  felt  hats. 

Lucilla.   This  must  be  the  place,  Agnes. 

Agnes.  I  hardly  think  we  mistook  the  path  shown 
us  by  the  kind  ladies,  Senorita;  this  is  to  the  right  of 
the  river,  and  here  is  the  rocky  cave. 

Lucilla.  Of  course  we  are  right.  Come,  Rosabella, 
here  is  a  bench ;  rest  yourself. 

Rosabella.  Are  we  in  the  sacred  grotto?  Tell  me, 
Lucilla,  does  it  represent  the  picture  in  my  dream? 


28  THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES 

Lucilla.  Surely,  sister.  But  your  dream  was  so  indis- 
tinct, your  cave  was  gloomy;  but  here  is  life  and  sun- 
shine. 

Rosabella.  Believe  me,  Lucilla,  my  little  body  feels 
that  I  am  in  a  sacred  spot.  Oh,  let  me  kiss  the  ground ! 
[bends  down.] 

Lucilla.   No,  no ;  we  might  be  mistaken. 

Rosabella.  No,  we  are  not ;  I  assure  you  we  are  not ! 
Where  is  my  rosary  ? 

Agnes.  On  your  left  arm,  Senorita. 

Rosabella.  Thanks,  thanks.   Are  we  alone? 

Lucilla  [looks].  There  is  no  one  here  but  you,  Agnes 
and  I ;  yet  I  thought  I  heard  voices  —  yes,  there  are 
ladies  ascending  the  path  towards  the  cave.  They 
appear  to  be  women  of  prominence. 

Rosabella.  And  where  shall  we  find  Bernadette? 

Lucilla.  That  I  cannot  say;  but  if  you  are  content  to 
remain  here  by  yourself,  we  will  go  and  find  Berna- 
dette. Do  you  fear  to  remain  alone  ? 

Rosabella.  Fear?  Fear  what,  Lucilla?  How  could 
fear  enter  my  mind  in  this  place ;  and  then  my  Guard- 
ian Angel  will  protect  me  and  stand  at  my  side.  I  fear 
not  even  darkness,  for  I  exist  in  darkness,  Lucilla ;  and 
my  rosary  shall  entertain  me  while  you  are  gone.  So 
make  haste  and  bring  Bernadette  to  me.  Tell  her  a 
poor,  blind  girl  asks  her  prayers  and  her  assistance. 
Make  haste!  Seek  the  child  of  Mary,  and  bring 
Heaven's  favored  one  to  me. 

Lucilla.  We  will  go.  Recite  your  rosary;  and  if 
these  ladies  should  come  here,  speak  not  a  word  to 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  2Q 

them,  for  I  notice  a  prohibition  on  the  railing  —  they 
might  be  ill  disposed,  and  hurt  our  cause. 

Rosabella.  You  are  a  sweet  little  woman.  I  will  do 
as  you  say ;  but  make  haste. 

Lucilla.    Adios,  sister  [kisses  her]. 

Agnes.   Adios,  Senorita  [kisses  her  hand]. 

[Exeunt. 

Rosabella  [alone].  Alone  again — alone  with  myself 
and  God's  holy  angel.  How  faithful  that  dear  Guard- 
ian Angel  has  been  to  us!  He  has  brought  us  hither 
through  a  thousand  dangers. 

[GUARDIAN  ANGEL  appears  in  the  background.] 

Like  Tobias,  he  has  safely  conducted  me  into  a  foreign 
hind ;  he  has  brought  me  to  Mary's  sacred  abode.  [Rises 
and  kneels,  facing  the  grotto.]  Mother  of  Mercy,  help 
thy  poor  child  who,  pleading,  kneels  at  thy  shrine ;  open 
my  dead,  sightless  orbs,  let  me  see  God's  beauty  in  fair 
nature !  Dispel  this  darkness — dismal,  dreary,  frightful. 

[GUARDIAN  ANGEL,  points  towards  the  fountain.] 

Thou  hast  given  earthly  life  to  Him  through  whom 
light  came  into  this  world.  Mother,  I  speak  as  a  child, 
hear  my  prayer.  To  thee  I  cry  from  this  valley  of 
tears.  Truly,  I  might  be  more  miserable  than  I  am. 
Born  a  grandee  of  Spain,  I  have  been  reared  in  afflu- 
ence. Gladly  will  I  share  of  my  abundance  with  God's 
poor;  and  to  thee,  Mary,  I  promise,  if  my  mortal  eyes 
be  opened  and  if  thy  Son's  grace  touch  the  spiritual 
eyes  of  my  unfortunate  mother,  to  aid  in  the  erection 
of  the  magnificent  temple  which  shall  crown  this  hill 


3O  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

and  forever  consecrate  these  rocks.  This,  dear  Mother 
Immaculate,  is  thy  poor  child's  vow ;  receive  it,  but  let 
me  see  —  let  me  see ! 

[Weeps,  while  little  angels  surround  her,  who 
quickly  withdraw  to  the  cave  as  she  rises,  and 
facing  the  grotto,  sings: 

Ave  Sanctissima, 

In  pity  lend  thine  ear, 
Ora  pro  me, 

My  hymn  of  pleading  hear. 
From  heaven,  eternal  bend; 

Mother,  give  thy  blind  child  sight, 
Dispel  this  cloud,  this  darkness  rend, 

O,  give  me  light! 
Star  of  earth's  pilgrim  weak, 

In  thy  tender  mercy  guide; 
Grant  the  boon  I  seek! 

[Refrain  by  the  angels.] 

Sweet  Mother,  sweet  Mother,  hear, 

Ora  pro  ea, 

Thou  star  of  radiance  great, 

Ora  Mater,  Ora,  Queen  Immaculate. 

[Voices  are  heard.  The  angels  disappear,  singing 
as  they  depart.] 

Enter  MADAME  MASSAY,  wife  of  the  Governor  of 
Hautes-Pyrenees,  MADAME  DR.  DOZONS  and  MADE- 
MOISELLE VERGEZ,  talking. 

Mme.  Massay.  In  accordance  with  an  imperial  de- 
cree, Baron  Massay  has  strictly  prohibited  any  ap- 
proach to  the  cave.  It  seems  that  these  poor,  ignorant 


THE.  SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  3! 

villagers  are  shamefully  deceived  by  this  young  mis- 
chief of  a  girl.  One  can  scarcely  believe  that  so  much 
deceit,  such  cunning  and  such  plausible  stories  could 
be  invented  by  a  girl  who  hardly  knows  how  to  read 
and  write,  and  has  spent  most  of  her  days  on  the  moun- 
tains with  the  cows  and  sheep.  Believe  me,  Madame 
Dozens,  there  is  some  deep  and  wicked  plot  in  all  this. 
I  have  promised  the  Governor  that,  on  my  visit  to 
Lourdes,  I  would  inspect  the  place  myself,  and  give  a 
faithful  account  of  what  I  see  here. 

Mme.  Dozons.  I  must  ask  leave  to  disagree  with 
your  Ladyship.  I  see  no  reason  why  all  that  has  hap- 
pened here  should  be  deceit. 

Mme.  Massay.  Poor,  deluded  creature,  I  see  your 
convent  education  always  gets  the  upper  hand.  You 
ought  to  have  Sisters  Genevieve  and  Madelaine  here 
with  you ;  and  I  would  not  be  surprised  if  each  of  you 
would  see  a  lady — one  white,  the  other  black,  I  suppose. 

Mile.  Verges.  Please,  aunt,  do  not  mock  holy  things 
in  such  a  way.  God  will  punish  you. 

Mme.  Massay.  No,  no,  dear  Julia,  no  danger.  I 
have  a  great  big  faith  in  my  heart,  but  I  do  hate 
deceit.  Now  listen ;  did  you  ever  have  a  dream  ? 

Mile.  Verges.   Why,  certainly ! 

Mme.  Massay.  And  you  believed  everything  you 
dreamt  ? 

M tie.  Verges.   Why,  no  ! 

Mme.  Massay.  Well,  this  mischief,  Bernadette,  is  a 
dreamer,  with  the  difference  that  she  dreams  with  eyes 
wide  open  and  you  with  eyes  closed. 


32  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  • 

Mme.  Dozons.  Happy  dreams  she  dreams  only; 
some  people  whose  eyes  were  closed  have  opened 
through  her  dreams. 

[ROSABELLA  coughs.} 

Mme.  Massay.  Why,  some  one  must  be  here.  [Looks 
about  and  sees  ROSABELLA.]  Well,  well,  a  little  bundle 
of  clothes  wrapt  around  a  poor  blind  girl.  What  do 
you  want  here  ?  Where  do  you  come  from  ? 

[ROSABELLA  apparently  weeps.   No  answer.] 

Mme.  Dozons  and  Mile.  Verges.  Perhaps  the  poor 
creature  is  deaf. 

Mme.  Massay.    Is  she  from  Lourdes? 

Mme.  Dozons.  I  have  never  seen  her  in  our  town. 

Mme.  Massay.  A  stranger  then.  I  wonder  whether 
she  read  the  prohibition  ? 

Mme.  Dozons.  Why,  certainly;  if  she  is  as  blind  as 
a  bat. 

Mile.  Verges.    You  ask  so  many  foolish  questions, 

Mme.  Massay.  She  will  be  arrested.  I  think  she  is 
letting  on.  Wait !  I  know  how  to  try  these  poor,  blind, 
deaf  creatures. 

[Takes  out  a  coin  and  puts  it  in  ROSABELLA'S 

hand.  She  throws  it  over  her  head  into  the  cave.} 

Ha !  Ha !  There  is  something  mysterious  in  this  being ; 

she  must  belong  to  the  vision.     Perhaps  we  will  soon 

hear  a  new  description  of  the  so-called  "White  Lady." 

Mile.  Verges.   She  is  teaching  you  a  lesson,  aunt,  by 

throwing  the  coin  towards  the  cave ;  she  means  that 

all  that  is  given  here  should  be  given  to  Mary. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  33 

Mme.  M assay.  Well !  Well !  A  wonderfully  logical 
head  you  have !  I  shall  beg  my  husband,  the  Governor, 
to  nominate  Mademoiselle  Vergez  alms  collector  for 
the  would-be  shrine  at  Lourdes. 

Mile.  Vergez.  And  let  me  assure  you,  my  Lady,  that 
it  will  not  be  many,  many  months  when  her  Ladyship, 
the  Governoress  of  Hautes-Pyrenees,  will  send  to  this 
shrine  a  substantial  contribution. 

Mme.  Massay.  Great  is  Israel  in  her  prophets !  surely 
I  have  given  my  share;  for  a  franc-piece  is  lying 
yonder.  But  I  must  say,  this  girl  is  really  blind. 

Mile.  Verges.  But  not  deaf,  for  I  see  a  significant 
smile  upon  those  childish  lips.  Let  me  ask.  Are  you 
blind,  Mademoiselle? 

Rosabella.  Yes,  Senorita  [smiles  sweetly], 

Mme.  Massay.  Ha!  she  is  Spanish.  How  does  she 
know  that  you  are  a  young  Senorita,  if  she  is  blind? 

Mile.  Verges.  Without  doubt  by  my  words,  dear 
aunt.  Sister  Antonia  used  to  tell  us  children  that  all 
women  are  foolish  when  they  marry,  so  perhaps  this 
Spanish  lass  can  wisely  distinguish  between  the  mar- 
ried Senora  and  the  unmarried  Senorita. 

Mme.  Massay.  Thank  you,  Senorita  Julia ;  you  are 
well  brought  up. 

Mile.  Verges.  And  equal  to  any  task. 

Mme.  Massay.  Enough  of  this  now.  I  pity  this  poor 
blind  child  and  wonder  how  she  came  here,  and  what 
she  wants  here  anyway. 

Mme.  Dozons.  Nothing  less  than  her  eyesight,  I 
presume. 


34  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES' 

Mme.  Massay.  Then  she  should  consult  your  hus- 
band, the  doctor. 

Mme.  Dosons.  He  might  tell  her  to  do  what  she 
herself  intends  to  do. 

Mme.  Massay.  What  is  that? 

Mme.  Dozcms.   Bathe  her  eyes  in  yonder  water. 

Mme.  Massay.  You  mean  to  say  that  so  intelligent 
and  cultured  a  gentleman  as  your  husband  believes  in 
these  proceedings  here? 

Mme.  Dozons.  Exactly.  He  is  convinced.  This 
morning  the  poor  blind  quarryman,  who  lost  his  eye- 
sight some  ten  years  ago,  came  to  him  perfectly  cured ; 
and  all  by  this  water,  which  his  young  daughter 
brought  him. 

Mme.  Massay.  Well,  well !  That  is  strange. 

Mile.  Verges.  Yes ;  our  Lord  Bishop  has  now  the 
case,  and  many  similar  ones,  in  hand ;  if  decides  in 
favor  of  the  apparition,  no  civil  power  can  hinder  the 
people  from  coming  here. 

Mme.  Massay.  That  he  won't,  that  he  won't;  he  is 
too  shrewd  a  man.  Not  even  the  Cure  of  Lourdes  has 
been  here. 

Mme.  Dozons.  But  he  has  sent  messages  to  the 
"White  Lady,"  and  she  in  turn- to  him. 

Mme.  Massay.  It  is  easy  to  convey  messages  when 
you  have  no  assurance  of  their  delivery.  Bernadette 
plays  her  part  well. 

Mme.  Dozons.  Bernadette,  Madame,  is  the  Lily  of 
the  Pyrenees ;  though  of  humble  parentage  she  pos- 
sesses qualities  that  would  adorn  a  Queen.  She  is  an 
angel  among  the  children  of  her  age.  Since  her  return 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  35 

from  the  mountains,  I  have  watched  her  carefully ;  her 
piety  is  admired  and  her  simplicity  charms.  I  can 
assure  you,  Madame,  that  Bernadette  is  no  fraud ;  she 
is  incapable  of  deceit. 

Mine.  Massay.  A  noble  champion  of  the  shepherdess  ! 
Surely  the  Governor  will  be  delighted  to  learn  of  this 
turn  of  events. 

Mme.  Dozons.  Still  greater  ones  will  happen, 
Madame,  ere  the  sun  has  set  thirty  times  from  today. 

Mme.  Massay.  Yes,  the  whole  village  will  be  in  a 
state  of  excitement;  frenzy  will  reign  supreme,  and 
superstition  hold  its  sway.  A  bright  future  for  the 
peaceful  valley  of  the  Pyreness.  But  why  lose  patience? 
I  have  seen  enough  and  heard  enough  to  convince  me 
that  radical  measures  must  be  taken  to  protect  the 
people  in  our  province.  Let  us  go.  [Approaches  ROSA- 
BELLA and  shakes  her  by  the  shoulder.]  Child,  you  are 
forbidden  to  stay  here;  the  decree  is  issued  and  must 
be  obeyed! 

Rosabella.  Yes,  Senora. 

Mile.  Verges.  Don't  trouble  the  poor  child.  Let  the 
Lord  Governor  come  and  arrest  the  poor,  blind  creature 
if  he  dare. 

Mme.  Dozons.  Some  one  will  surely  come  for  her. 
Madame,  let  us  remain  in  the  vicinity  and  watch  the 
outcome. 

Mme.  Massay.  It  strikes  me  that  I  passed  a  band  of 
gypsies,  on  the  highway  from  the  city  to  Lourdes, 
today.  Do  you  think  she  is  one? 


36  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Mme.  Dozons.  She  has  not  the  appearance;  but 
gypsy  or  no  gypsy,  let  us  leave  her.  I  hope  she  will  not 
attempt  to  walk  by  herself,  for  she  might  fall  into  the 
river. 

Mme.  Massay.  And  drown ;  then  we  would  have  a 
tragedy  added  to  the  comedy.  [Exeunt  to  the  side. 

Enter  AGNES  and  LUCILLA  with  BERNADETTE.    They 
have  watched  the  ladies  depart. 

Lucilla  [behind  the  stage].  They  are  gone.  Oh,  dear 
sister,  we  are  here  at  last !  We  were  gone  a  long,  long 
time,  and  you  must  have  been  nearly  frightened  to 
death. 

[.SERNADETTE  stands  at  a  distance  unmindful  of 
all,  and  with  folded  hands  gazes  pensively  at 
the  cave.] 

Rosabella.  Some  women  were  here,  and  one  was  very 
cross.  She  said  she  did  not  believe  in  the  apparition. 
They  made  me  feel  very  sad ;  she  called  Bernadette  a 
fraud,  [slowly].  Did  you  bring  her? 

Lucilla.   Surely,  sister ;  she  is  here. 

Rosabella  [animated].  Oh!  where  is  she?  [Stretches 
out  her  hands.]  Oh  !  where  is  she?? 

Lucilla  [walks  to  BERNADETTE  and  brings  her  to 
ROSABELLA].  My  blind  sister,  Bernadette. 

Bernadette.  God  bless  you,  kind  friend  [gives  her 
her  hand]. 

Rosabella  [kisses  the  hand  devoutly].  Oh,  happy 
moment  of  my  life  to  be  with  you !  Blessed  the  hour ! 

Bernadette.  Do  not  speak  so ;  I  am  only  a  poor 
mountain  lass. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  37 

Rosabella  [tries  to  find  the  other  hand  and  puts  both 
to  her  cheeks,  so  as  to  touch  the  eyes] .  Oh,  blessed, 
blessed,  thrice  blessed  Bernadette !  You  are  heaven's 
favored  child;  you  have  seen  our  heavenly  Mother! 
Oh,  pray  [beseechingly]  to  our  good  Lady  that  I  may 
see,  that  poor  Rosabella  may  see  ! 

Bernadette.  God's  Mother  can  help  you,  for  she  has 
helped  many. 

Rosabella.  And  I  am  sure  she  will  help  me. 

Bernadette.  Have  you  prayed  to  her? 

Rosabella.  Every  day,  sweet  Bernadette ;  and  on  my 
way  hither  we  prayed  nearly  all  the  time.  See  my 
rosary,  it  feels  as  though  it  was  badly  worn. 

Bernadette.  And  how  far  did  you  come  ? 

Rosabella.   From  Spain,  Bernadette. 

Bernadette.   From  Spain  ?  That  must  be  very  far. 

Lucilla.  From  San  Sebastiano,  in  Spain — about  one 
hundred  miles  from  here. 

Bernadette.   Who  spoke  to  you  of  Lourdes? 

Agnes.  My  parents  have  heard  the  wonderful  stories. 

Rosabella.   Yes,  Gertrude  has  told  us  all. 

Bernadette.   She  told  you  of  Lourdes  ? 

Rosabella.   Yes,  and  of  Bernadette. 

Bernadette.  And  then  you  left  home  and  came  here? 

Rosabella.   Yes. 

Bernadette.   With  your  parents'  permission? 

Rosabella.  My  father  is  dead  and  my  mother  knows 
nothing  of  our  whereabouts. 

Bernadette.  So  you  came  without  her  consent?  Oh, 
I  fear  you  have  done  wrong !  I  fear  all  our  prayers  will 
be  of  no  avail.  Our  Blessed  Mother  will  not  listen  to  us. 


38  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Rosabella.  She  will  not?  [Sadly.]  Bernadette,  she 
will  not?  Oh!  what  will  become  of  me?  [weeps] 

[AGNES  and  LUCILLA  turn  away,  looking  very 
sad.] 

What  shall  I  do  ?  Tell  me,  Bernadette. 

Bernadette.  Return  home  and  ask  your  mother's 
blessing. 

Rosabella.  Oh,  Bernadette,  I  cannot,  I  cannot!  She 
hates  me,  she  despises  me ;  her  blessing  she  would  and 
could  not  give,  for  there  is  little  faith  in  her  heart. 
Bernadette  [kneels  before  her],  gladly — oh!  believe  me 
—would  I  remain  blind  all  the  days  of  my  life  if  my 
darling  mother's  spiritual  eyes  were  opened,  if  the 
stony  heart  would  soften  through  the  influence  of  love 
and  religion.  Let  us  pray,  dear  Bernadette ;  let  us  pray 
at  least  for  my  mother. 

[BERNADETTE  helps  her  to  arise.] 

Bernadette.  Do  not  kneel  before  me;  this  place  is 
consecrated  to  God's  Mother.  Rosabella,  beautiful  rose 
— for  this  seems  to  be  your  name — do  you  love  your 
mother  ? 

Rosabella.  With  my  whole  heart.  She  is  my  mother, 
and  that  tells  all. 

Bernadette.   Are  these  your  sisters? 

Rosabella.  One  is,  Lucilla ;  the  other — yes,  she,  too 
is  my  sister,  for  from  her  mother  I  received  both  spirit- 
ual and  earthly  food;  yes,  she  is  my  sister.  Her 
mother's  blessings  and  prayers  are  with  us,  and  every 
moment,  no  doubt,  she  thinks  of  us.  She,  in  the  sim- 
plicity of  her  heart,  has  entrusted  us  to  the  care  of 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  39 

our  holy  Guardian  Angel.  He  has  stood  by  our  side, 
and  he  will  lead  us  safely  back  to  our  home  and  to 
our  own. 

Bernadette.  You  speak  nobly,  girl,  and  I  see  your 
heart  is  filled  with  faith.  I  will  pray  to  our  good  Mother 
for  you.  Go,  then,  to  the  fountain,  while  I  kneel  in 
prayer  [points  to  the  fountain,  but  sees  the  obstruction  . 
But,  ah  !  they  have  closed  the  fountain !  When  will  the 
good  people  believe  me?  Mary  has  given  a  heavenly 
sign,  and  they  are  again  deceiving  themselves. 

Rosabella.  Do  not  leave  me,  Bernadette.  Will  any 
one  harm  you  or  us  ? 

Bernadette.  I  fear  nothing,  Rosabella,  only  sin.  But 
they  may  harm  you. 

Rosabella.  They  cannot  harm  us,  dear  Bernadette. 
Has  the  Virgin  Mother  ever  spoken  to  you  ? 

Bernadette  [animated].  Yes,  she  spoke  words  of 
heavenly  sweetness,  and  in  a  tone  so  sad,  so  sad. 
France,  beautiful  France,  must  do  penance,  else  God's 
hand  will  rest  heavily  upon  her.  She  demands  that  a 
chapel  be  built  in  this  place. 

Rosabella.  A  chapel !  A  chapel !  No,  a  church  shall 
be  built  here,  and  I  will  help;  I  have  vowed  it  to  our 
Blessed  Mother. 

Bernadette.  Oh !  you  poor,  blind  child,  Rosabella. 

Rosabella.  I  am  blind,  Bernadette,  hence  poor ;  but 
my  life  is  a  mystery  to  you.  Take  me  to  the  fountain ; 
after  I  see  I  will  tell  you  all. 

[LUCILLA    and   AGNES,   with    BERNADETTE,    tear 
down  the  prohibition  and  railing.] 

Bernadette.   Do  not  fear,  Rosabella,  Mary  will  hear 


4O  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

your  prayers.  Oh !  how  sweetly  she  smiled  when  I 
asked  her  to  cause  the  rose  bush  to  bloom  in  the  cave, 
as  I  was  commanded  to  dp  by  our  dear  Pastor,  the 
Cure.  She  smiled  and  she  pointed  to  that  spot,  then 
dry  and  rocky.  With  my  hands  I  scratched  away  the 
surface  soil,  and  behold!  a  fountain  of  crystal  water 
bubbled  up ;  and  believe  me,  sister,  hundreds  have  been 
cured  by  the  use  of  the  miraculous  water. 

[Points  to  the  water  and  begs  AGNES  and  LUCILLA 
to  go  there  with  ROSABELLA.  She  herself  feels 
the  happy  moment  of  a  new  apparition  approach, 
and  becomes  radiant  with  joy.] 

The  dewy  shades  of  evening  are  fast  falling,  the  sun 
is  sinking  into  the  arms  of  the  invisible. 

[All  look  at  her  with  astonishment.] 
Heaven  smiles  again  upon  me.     Rosabella — go — to — 
the — fountain — bathe — your — eyes — now — blind — call 
upon — our — loving — Mother — in — Heaven — pray — to 
— her — and — you — shall — see. 

[Angelus  bell  rings;  she  falls  on  her  knees.  Children 
go  to.  the  fountain  and  kneel.  Soft  music.  Appa- 
rition appears.  BERNADETTE  in  ecstasy.  They  bathe 
ROSABELLA'S  eyes,  slowly,  carefully  and  with  devo- 
tion, then  take  a  silk  handkerchief  and  hold  it  over 
the  eyes  of  the  blind  girl  while  praying  silently.  Red 
light  burns.  ROSABELLA  gradually  takes  away  the 
bandage,  wipes  her  face  and  eyes,  looks  about  for  a 
moment,  as  if  dazed,  and  runs  to  the  front  of  the 
stage,  seemingly  unmindful  of  the  others.  For  stage 
effect,  ROSABELLA  may  open  her  black  cloak,  while 
kneeling  at  the  grotto,  so  that  her  princely  garments 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  4-1 

may  be  seen,  thereby  improving  her  appearance  in 

the  outburst  of  joy.    Her  hat  falls  back  on  her 

shoulders.  She  says:] 

Rosabella.  Joy!  Joy!  I  see!  I  see!  The  night  is 
over,  the  day  is  come !  Can  this  be  Heaven  ?  Surely  so 
fair  a  realm  must  be  tenanted  by  angels ;  or  am  I  just 
outside  the  golden  gates?  Yes,  yes,  'tis  true!  See 
yonder,  where  the  earth  meets  sky,a  wondrous,  dazzling 
glory  surrounds  a  fiery  disc ;  a  golden  light  bathes  this 
mysterious  land,  long  rays  of  light  sweep  over  the  grass 
and  trees.  Ah !  now  I  recall :  'tis  the  sun  bidding  fare- 
well to  the  earth.  Oh !  the  ecstasy  which  thrills  my 
heart !  I  gaze  upon  this  scene  as  one  might  gaze  having 
never  known  its  like  before.  I  scarce  dare  move  or 
speak ;  but  drink  its  sweetness  down  into  my  soul.  No 
sound  breaks  the  silence,  and  thus  I  stand,  in  rapture, 
beholding  the  vision  of  a  God-created  world.  How 
merciful  thou  art,  O  Mary,  thy  blind  child  knows ! 
Thou  hast  stooped  from  Heaven  to  touch  these  sight- 
less orbs,  which  have  never  looked  upon  the  world 
before,  and  given  them  the  precious  boon  of  sight. 
Every  blade  of  grass  sings  to  me ;  the  flowers,  swaying 
in  the  breeze,  wave  a  "Te  Deum."  Ah !  who  is  this 
sweet,  young  being?  Surely — yes,  it  must  be  my  own 
dear,  little  sister,  small  no  longer  —  larger  than  I 
imagined — but  yet  as  fair  as  the  blossoms ;  and  this 
saintly  looking  creature,  who  seems  not  of  the  earth ! 

[While  ROSABELLA  speaks,  LUCILLA  and  AGNES 
stand  in  attitudes  of  amazement.  BERNADETTE 
continues  in  prayer  during  ROSABELLA'S  outburst 
of  joy.  Finally,  LUCILLA  calls  her  sister.} 


42  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Lucilla.   Sister,  sister,  is  it  true  or  a  dream? 
Rosabella.   Oh,  my  darling  sister !  no  dream ;  reality, 
reality.  I  see,  I  see! 

[Embraces  LUCILLA,  and  turning  to  AGNES,  pats 
her  on  the  cheek,  saying:] 

Good,  kind  Agnes,  oh,  how  happy  'this  moment !  the 
sweetest  of  my  life;  for  life,  for  me,  is  but  just  begin- 
ning.   And  now  where  is  our  dear  Bernadette? 
Lucilla.   Still  in  ecstasy  and  prayer. 

[BERNADETTE  zvaking  as  though  from  a  dream. 
ROSABELLA  rushes  to  her  in  joy.] 

Rosabella.  Oh,  Bernadette !  Bernadette !  I  see. 
Tell  me,  tell  me,  have  I  opened  my  eyes  in  Heaven  ? 

Bernadette.  No,  'tis  the  earth,  and  although  you 
hear  no  angels'  songs,  you  must  glorify  and  thank  her 
who  appeared  to  me  and  gave  you  sight.  A  sign,  testi- 
fying that  the  apparition  is  supernatural,  has  again 
been  given  us ;  and  you  must  be  ever  grateful  to  the 
Mistress  of  Heaven  for  the  great  blessing  she  has 
bestowed  upon  you.  Return  to  your  home ;  your  sight 
has  been  received,  there  remains  but  the  spiritual  blind- 
ness of  your  mother. 

Rosabella.  1  go;  but  not  many  weeks  shall  pass  ere 
you  see  me  again.  Then  shall  be  revealed  to  you  my 
name  and  position  in  life.  One  favor  more  I  beg  of 
you,  O  Bernadette,  powerful  advocate  with  Mary- 
pray  to  her  for  my  poor,  perverted  mother. 

MME.    MASSAY,    MME.    DOZONS   and   MLLE.    VERGEZ 
rush  from  their  hiding  places,  saying: 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  43 

And  pray  for  us,  Bernadette ;  pray  for  us. 

Mme.  Massay.  Great  is  the  mystery  transacted 
before  our  eyes  this  hour!  Great  is  "Our  Lady  of 
Lourdes." 

[ROSABELLA  embraces  BERNADETTE.] 
CURTAIN. 


ACT  IV 

SCENE. — Apartment  in  the  castle. — GERTRUDE,  sitting 
in  a  comfortable  chair,  working  on  some  embroidery; 
STELLA  and  TERESA  at  her  feet,  the  latter  with  a 
book  of  fairy  tales. — Table  and  other  furniture  to 
either  side  of  the  stage. 

Teresa  [breaking  off  reading}.  Mamma,  after  school 
today,  I  did  what  you  told  me  this  morning. 

Gertrude.  That's  an  obedient  girl.  Good  children 
always  do  as  they  are  told. 

Stella.  Suppose  they  would  not  ? 

Gertrude.  Then  they  deserve  to  be  punished — one 
— two — three — and  if  you  disobey — four — five — six — 
you  certainly  shall  be — seven — eight. 

Teresa.  What  are  you  counting,  mamma? 

Gertrude.   Stitches  on  my  work— nine— ten — eleven. 

Teresa  [on  her  fingers].    You  missed  ten,  mamma. 

Gertrude.    Be  quiet,  or  else  I  shall  make  a  mistake. 

Stella  [arises  and  ivatches  her].  How  many  stitches 
in  a  row,  mamma  ? 

Gertrude.   Don't  disturb  me ;  go  out  on  the  veranda 


44  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  . 

and  see  whether  any  one  is  coming.    .1  am  strangely 
uneasy  this  afternoon. 

[STELLA  dances  and  exits. 

Teresa.  Mamma,  you  did  not  mind  what  I  said 
before  [stands  up  before  her]. 

Gertrude.  And  what  is  it  darling?  [Puts  her  work 
aside].  Tell  mamma  everything. 

Teresa.  See  the  lovely  medal  I  received  in  school 
today,  for  being  a  good  little  girl ;  and  then,  when 
school  was  over,  I  went  to  the  Church  of  San  Sebasti- 
ano  and  prayed  at  the  altar  of  our  Senora  for  our  dear 
blind  Princess  and  Sister  Agnes. 

Gertrude  [brushing  a  tear  from  her  eyes].  A  good, 
good  child ;  and  what  does  your  little  heart  think  of  the 
Princess  ? 

Teresa.  That  she  will  return.  I  dreamt,  last  night, 
that  she  would  return  and  open  her  beautiful  eyes. 
I  saw  her  with  a  lovely  angel  near.  She  laid  a  white 
cloth  over  her  blind  eyes,  and  when  it  was  removed 
she  saw. 

Gertrude.  A  delightful  dream.  Do  you  think  it  will 
come  true? 

Teresa.  Yes,  yes,  mamma;  look  [shou's  her  book]. 
I  have  just  read  the  legend  of  St.  Ottilia;  she  was  a 
blind  Princess  of  Lorraine,  and  became  a  Christian. 
A  holy  Bishop  baptized  her  and  prayed  over  her,  and 
her  eyes  were  opened,  which  made  her  mother  very, 
very  happy. 

Gertrude.  Well,  well,  darling,  you  are  teaching 
your  mamma  [takes  her  upon  her  lap].  And  what 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  45 

would  you  do  if  the  Princess  were  to  return  cured  of 
her  blindness  ? 

Teresa  [folding  her  little  hands].  I  would  thank  God 
every  hour  of  my  life,  and  every  day  bring  her  the 
sweetest  flowers  I  could  find  in  the  garden. 

Gertrude.  You  did  that  when  she  was  blind. 
Teresa.    Then   [reaches  in  her  pocket]    I  would  say 
my  rosary  every  day,  to  the  saint  who  cured  her. 

Gertrude.   Do  saints  cure? 

Teresa.  Yes,  they  can,  through  God  who  loves  them 
dearly. 

Gertrude.  That's  a  good  child  [kisses  her].  Now 
go  and  look  for  your  sister. 

[TERESA  jumps  up  and  departs. 

Gertrude  [arises  and  looks  after  her].  Happy  chil- 
dren— my  treasures,  my  joy.  Little  do  they  apprehend 
the  trouble.  Soon  I  shall  have  to  leave  this  peaceful 
place,  and  where  shall  I  find  shelter  for  me  and  mine? 
The  Princess  is  a  raving  maniac ;  since  her  children  are 
gone  she  has  lost  all  control  of  herself.  I  promised 
Rosabella  to  conceal  her  flight;  but  if  they  do  not 
return  today  I  shall  go  to  the  Princess,  throw  myself 
upon  my  knees  and  confess  all.  I  will  suffer — suffer 
as  I  deserve.  Yet  there  is  a  loving  Father  watching 
over  us ;  His  will  be  done.  He  feeds  the  birds  of  the 
air,  the  beasts  of  the  field ;  He  will  protect  me  and 
mine  [ivalks  up  and  down,  and  looks  through  the  win- 
dow]. I  wonder  what  has  come  of  Laurinda?  She  has 
persistently  remained  in  the  house  so  as  not  to  come 
in  contact  with  the  Princess.  If  she  learns  that  I  have 
stored  Laurinda  away,  there  will  be  no  hope  for  poor 


46  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES. 

Gertrude.  My  husband,  Carlo,  has  been  most  faithful 
to  the  house  of  Valencia;  but  I  fear  we  will  have  to 
look  for  other  quarters  —  poor  Carlo.  Well,  let  me 
work.  [Takes  up  work].  One,  two,  three,  four — 

Enter  LAURINDA  and  ISABELLA. 

Laurinda.  Good  evening,  Gertrude.  Ha!  you  cer- 
tainly must  have  thought  the  bird  had  escaped — no,  no, 
my  wings  are  clipped,  at  least  for  the  present,  and  I 
will  have  to  be  your  boarder  for  another  week.  I  had 
bad  news,  this  afternoon,  in  a  letter  from  my  uncle — 
but,  Gertrude,  here  is  a  lady  with  the  best  of  news. 

Isabella.  Guess  from  whom. 

Gertrude.  From  the  Princess. 

Isabella.  Not  from  the  one  up  there  in  the  Alcazar, 
to  be  sure ;  but  I  do  believe  I  have  good  news  from  the 
blind  Princess. 

Gertrude.  From  the  blind  Princess  ?  [smiles] . 

Laurinda.  Good  little  soul,  I  know  you  are  happy ; 
your  thoughts  are  constantly  "of  thine  little  ninita." 

Gertrude.    Ninita;  yes,  mine  ninita. 

Enter  STELLA  and  TERESA. 

Teresa.  See,  mamma,  what  lovely  roses  Stella  and  I 
gathered  in  the  Alameda.  I  shall  keep  them  for  the 
Princess  Rosabella. 

Gertrude.  Are  you  so  sure  they  will  return  soon  ? 
[STELLA  puts  flowers  in  the  vase  on  the  table.] 

Isabella.  Perhaps  this  paper  will  give  you  informa- 
tion. 

Gertrude.   What  paper? 

Isabella.   The  "Voice  of  Truth" ;  here,  read. 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  47 

Gertrude.  Wait,  you  know  I  cannot  read  without 
glasses  [looks  for  them].  I  wonder  where  they  are. 

Teresa.  There,  mamma,  on  your  head. 

Gertrude.  Sure  enough;  you  little  mite,  you  see 
everything  —  yes,  I  am  getting  old  and  forgetful. 

•Stella.  And  gray — 

Teresa.  See,  mamma,  lots  of  gray  hairs  on  your 
head  [looks  for  them].  May  I  pull  them  out? 

Stella  [strikes  TERESA'S  little  hand].  Hush  now, 
Teresa ;  let  mamma  read. 

Gertrude  [takes  paper,  looks  it  over  and  returns  it 
to  ISABELLA].  You  better  read;  my  eyes  are  weak, 
anyway. 

Isabella.  Listen:  "Lourdes,  France,  March  4th, 
1858.  The  supposed  apparitions  in  the  grotto  continue 
— the  excitement  in  the  Provinces  increases.  Baroness 
Massay  visited  the  spot,  a  few  days  ago,  and  reports 
to  have  witnessed  a  miracle.  A  blind  girl,  and  sup- 
posed to  have  been  a  gypsy,  received  her  eyesight  upon 
the  application  of  the  water — 

Teresa  and  Stella  ]clap  their  hands].  That  was  the 
Princess ! 

Gertrude.   But  she  is  no  gypsy  . 

Isabella.  Silencio — "Were  it  not  for  the  high  position 
of  Her  Excellency,  Madame  Massay,  the  event  could 
hardly  be  believed.  The  fact,  however,  is  authenticated 
by  a  poor  quarryman,  known  in  this  town  as  Louis 
Bouriette,  who  lost  his  eyes,  twenty  years  ago,  in  a 
powder  explosion,  and  now  sees  after  applying  the 
water.  A  paralyzed  woman  was  carried  to  the  grotto 
yesterday ;  today,  is  seen  walking  the  streets.  Wonder- 


48  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES- 

ful  events  are  surely  transpiring."  Again:  "Paris, 
March  4th.  His  Imperial  Majesty,  Napoleon  III,  has 
today  dispatched  a  special  commissioner  to  Lourdes  to 
investigate  the  apparitions  and  supposed  miracles.  His 
Majesty  awaits  results  with  great  uneasiness." 

Gertrude.  Well — well — what  shall  I  say  to  all  this  ? 

Laurinda.  Dates  correspond  with  the  time  the  Prin- 
cess might  have  reached  Lourdes. 

Gertrude.  But  it  says  a  poor  gypsy  girl.  Rosabella 
is  no  gypsy  and  is  not  poor. 

Stella.  -Well,  mamma,  you  know  newspapers  always 
lie  in  something. 

Isabella.  The  Princess  may  have  traveled  as  a  poor 
girl.  Gertrude,  is  there  any  news  from  the  Alcazar? 
Does  her  ladyship  know  where  her  children  are? 

Gertrude.  Mina  was  here  today.  She  described  the 
scenes  in  the  castle-^one  storm  after  another;  and  all 
the  blame  rests  on  me.  Well,  I  have  broad  shoulders, 
and  by  good  Carlo  consoles  me  by  saying  the  storm 
will  pass.  I  only  wish  the  Princess  Rosabella  would 
return  before  we  are  driven  away. 

Isabella.   Driven  away ! 

Gertrude.  I  expect  the  sad  news  every  moment.  I 
am  praying  for  a  home  somewhere.  We  certainly  have 
always  had  luxurious  apartments  here — a  happy  home 
— but  worries  will  come,  and  must  come,  to  the  best 
of  us. 

Laurinda.  You  are  right,  Gertrude ;  but  when  they 
come  they  are  hard  to  bear. 

[A  tambourine  heard.] 


THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  49 

Gertrude.  Go,  children,  see  what  that  means. 

[Exeunt  STELLA  and  TERESA. 
Now,  Laurinda,  what  is  your  cross  ? 

Laurinda.  My  uncle  writes  that,  at  present,  he 
knows  of  no  vacancy  in  any  noble  family.  But  I  cannot 
remain  here;  and  if  Rosabella  does  not  return  by 
tomorrow,  I  leave  in  the  evening. 

Isabella.  Foolish  girl,  you  can  come  to  me  if  you 
are  afraid  to  remain  here. 

Enter  STELLA  and  TERESA. 

Stella  and  Teresa.  Oh !  mamma — a  little  gypsy  girl 
is  outside  on  the  Esplanade. 

Teresa.  She  plays  and  dances  lovely  [tries  to  imi- 
tate her] .  Let  us  call  her  in,  mamma. 

Gertrude.   Certainly ;  we  need  a  little  amusement., 

Stella  [calling  outside.]  Come  in,  little  gypsy  maiden. 

LYDIA  enters,  playing  and  dancing  a  quickstep.  Music. 
She  bows  gracefully  -when  finished. 

Lydia.  Senora  and  Senoritas,  I  am  a  poor  gypsy 
girl,  wandering  about  the  world,  homeless  and  friend- 
less. 

Gertrude.   Where  were  you  born  ? 

Lydia.  In  fair  Granada.  I  dwelt  in  the  golden 
orange  groves  of  the  Alhambra,  danced  in  the  Alcazar 
of  proud  Sevilla,  now  to  beg  from  door  to  door.  I  tell 
fortunes  and  sing1  lovely  songs  [catches  some  one's 
hand], 

Laurinda.   Where  are  your  parents? 

Lydia.    My  father,  I  know  not;  he  is  buried  under 


5O  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

an  olive  tree  at  Cadiz.  My  mother  I  lost  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  so  they  say. 

Isabella.   Who  say? 

Lydia.  The  gypsies,  of  course,  with  whom  I  tramped 
through  the  world.  They  killed  mymother  and  stole 
me.  They  took  me  beyond  the  Pyrenees,  where  I 
escaped.  They  were  wicked.  Finally  I  came  to 
Sebastiano. 

Teresa  [walks  up  to  LYDIA  and  looks  at  her  with 
confidence].  Little  gypsy,  you  say  you  can  tell  for- 
tunes. You  know  what  we  do  not ;  tell  us  what  has 
become  of  the  blind  Princess. 

Lydia  [astonished,  looks  about}.  Blind  Princess! 
blind  Princess  !  [takes  a  rose  from  the  vase  and  holds  it 
up  after  she  has  kissed  it]. 

"Rosabella,  beautiful  rose, 
Lucilla,  light  ever  as  bright, 
Rosabella  is  now  Lucilla 
She  sees,  she  sees,  dear  Senorita, 
She  bathed  her  eyes  in  the  waters, 
In  the  waters  of  Massabielle, 
Oh  happy,  oh  happy  Rosabella." 

[Touches  tambourine  and  dances.] 

All  [very  astonished].   How  do  you  know  that? 
Lydia. 

The  roses  can  speak,  Senorita, 

They  speak  to  me  of  Ninita. 

[Large  bell  rings.] 

Gertrude.    Oh,  nostra  Senora!    Oh,  the  Princess  is 
coming  from  the  castle.  [Bell  rings.]  Go — go,  children 
—  ladies  —  go  —  here,  gypsy  [gives  her  a  coin],  hide 
yourself. 


[Bell  rings  again.  They  all  leave.  Someone  takes 
LYDIA,  who  dances  once  or  twice,  laughing  as 
she  departs.] 

Lydia. 

"La  Princessa  will  love  Rosabella, 
Rosabella  will  love  la  Princessa." 

[Exeunt. 

Enter  PRINCESS  OF  VALENCIA  with  her  ladies,  who 
stop  at  a  distance.    GERTRUDE  meets  her  at  the  door, 
bowing  gracefully. 

Gertrude.  Her  ladyship  is  welcome  to  my  apartments. 

Princess  [sitting  in  a  chair] .  Gertrude,  I  have  come 
on  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance.  You  may  sur- 
mise what  I  am  about  to  say,  and  you  may  have  been 
surprised  that  I  have  not  come  ere  this.  To  be  short,  it 
almost  breaks  my  heart  to  learn  that  those  who  have 
always  shared  my  royal  bounty  should  so  far  forget 
themselves  as  to  conspire  in  robbing  me  of  my  peace. 

Gertrude.   They  deserve  to  be  imprisoned. 

Princess.  You  are  pronouncing  sentence  upon  your- 
self, woman.  You  have  been  the  recipient  of  my  favors, 
you  have  surrounded  yourself  with  all  the  comforts  and 
luxuries  of  life ;  and  silently  I  bowed  assent  to  all  this. 
You  receive  visits  and  make  them  in  San  Sebastiano. 

Gertrude.  Senora,  you  are  misinformed.  How  could 
I,  a  poor,  clumsy,  ignorant  woman,  play  the  lady  in 
aristocratic  San  Sebastiano?  All  know  Gertrude. 

Princess.  You  are  speaking  the  truth.  They  know 
you  as  a  selfish,  domineering,  meddling  woman.  They 
know  you  —  and  that  means  they  do  not  respect  you. 


52  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES 

Gertrude.  You  speak  wisely,  noble  Senora,  but  I 
fear  your  informers  must  have  been  mistaken. 

Princess.   Another  piece  of  impertinence. 

Gertrude.  Surely  you  would  not  accuse  me  of  all 
you  said  ? 

Princess.  And  more  yet,  woman,  were  I  not  to  lower 
myself  in  noticing  you  at  all. 

Gertrude.  True  nobility,  Senora,  is  found  only  in  the 
heart ;  in  this  a  princess  and  a  beggar  may  be  alike. 

Princess.  Do  not  speak  thus  in  my  presence. 

Gertrude.  My  relation  to  your  child,  Senora,  permits 
me  to  utter  these  sentiments — you  accuse  me  falsely 
and  I  must  defend  myself.  It  may  be  well  for  you,  even 
though  you  are  the  proud  Princess  of  Valencia,  to  listen 
to  a  few  words  spoken  truthfully  and  honestly,  though 
spoken  by  your  keeper's  wife. 

Princess  [arises].  Be  silent.  I  command.  You  have 
decoyed  my  children  into  your  house  and  aided  them  in 
leaving  their  home ;  you  are  harboring  one  whom  I 
have  forbidden  inside  my  doors,  and  in  my  madness 
I  feel  like  piercing  your  infamous  heart.  Would  that  I 
were  a  man,  you  should  even  now  be  lying  dead  before 
me.  [In  complete  madness  and  hysterical.]  You  are 
a  shame  to  womankind,  a  disgrace  to  your  sex,  an  out- 
cast from  society ! 

STELLA  and  TERESA  enter,  crying. 
Mamma,  come;  do  not  stay  here. 

[PRINCESS  sees  STELLA  and  takes  her  hysterically 
into  her  arms.] 

Princess.  Come — come — you  are  partly  my  daughter. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS    OF   LOURDES  53 

[Looks  at  her.]  Agnes,  Agnes — no,  you  are  riot  Agnes 
[pushes  her  away].  Go,  go  —  all  of  you  —  leave  my 
castle  —  leave  my  house  — 

Children  [fall  on  their  knees].  Do  not  be  so  cross, 
kind  Princess ;  do  not  send  us  away. 

Princess  [overcome,  falls  back  into  the  chair  and  has 
a  violent  spell  of  iveeping,  and  cries  at  times:]  Go  —  I 
say  —  go. 

Gertrude  [who  has  retreated  somewhat,  nozv  ap- 
proaches calmly  and  motions  to  the  children].  Go, 
children,  go.  [They  depart.  She  kneels  before  the 
PRINCESS,  smoothing  her  temples.}  I  know  you  loved 
me  once,  noble  Princess,  and  I  shall  not  reprove  you. 
I  shall  only  speak  as  a  mother  speaks  to  a  mother. 

Princess.  Speak,  Gertrude,  speak !  Oh,  my  temples 
burst ! 

Gertrude.  God  has  sent  you  this  visitation  because 
you  have  not  loved  your  afflicted  child.  God  has  per- 
mitted this ;  something  tells  me  so.  You  must  be  a 
good  mother  to  your  children,  you  must  teach  them  to 
honor  and  love  their  religion.  You  belong  to  a  proud 
Catholic  race;  your  ancestors  and  your  name  are 
among  the  most  revered  grandees  of  the  State.  The 
noble  blood  of  a  Columbus  flows  in  your  veins — Catho- 
lic Columbus.  Promise  God,  if  your  children  return, 
you  will  be  a  good  mother  to  them  —  promise  now. 

Princess.  Gertrude  [hesitates,  then  amidst  tears},  I 
promise  faithfully  and  upon  my  honor. 

Gertrude.  Promise  that  you  will  love  them.  You 
have  learned  what  it  means  to  be  without  them. 
Promise  upon  your  honor. 


54  THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Princess  [slowly].   Yes,  I  will  love  them. 

Gertrude.  Then,  surely,  God  will  lead  them  back  to 
you.  Return  to  your  castle  [arises],  noble  Princess, 
and  believe  me,  your  children  are  safe.  Mina,  Antonia 
[approach],  the  Princess  is  ill;  lead  her  to  the  apart- 
ment on  the  left  until  she  recovers. 

Princess  [slowly  rises  with  assistance].  Gertrude,  I 
will  see  you  before  I  return  to  the  castle.  Adios. 

[Exeunt. 

Gertrude  [bozvs].  Adios.  What  a  miracle  is  wrought 
in  that  proud  woman's  heart !  [Kneels  in  the  middle  of 
the  stage.]  Thanks,  Heavenly  Father,  for  this  favor; 
now  bid  her  children  return. 

CHILDREN  enter  zvith  ISABELLA  and  LAURINDA. 

Children.   Is  she  gone  ?  Oh,  mother,  must  we  leave  ? 

Gertrude.  Never,  dear  little  mites ;  not  until  these 
massive  walls  fall. 

Isabella.   Is  the  storm  over? 

Gertrude.  Calm  is  restored ;  the  Princess  is  ill  and 
has  retired.  But  what  is  up  again?  [Tambourine  and 
guitar  are  heard.}  See  who  is  out,  Stella. 

[STELLA  goes  out. 
Surely  the  poor  gypsy  has  not  brought  her  whole  tribe. 

STELLA  returns  with  LYDIA.   LYDIA  bows. 

Lydia.  May  I  ask  the  kind  lady  for  a  night's  lodging 
for  my  companions  and  myself? 

Gertrude.  That's  too  much  —  too  much.  I  gave  you 
a  franc,  and  here  is  another  [gives  coin  on  the  tam- 
bourine] ;  go,  seek  a  lodging  in  the  city.  Gypsies  are 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  55 

never  safe,  they  steal  and  rob  whenever  they  have  a 
chance.   Go ! 

Lydia.  I  not  rob  and  steal,  I  make  an  honest  living, 
Senora.  See,  see  [shows  her  a  handful  of  gold.  They 
are  astonished.]  I  no  little  thief,  no  robber  —  a  good 
Castilian  maiden,  with  lots  of  love  for  God  and  man. 

Gertrude.  Do  you  pray? 

Lydia.  Pray !  Surely,  Senora,  I  pray,  I  sing,  I  dance, 
I  say  my  rosary  [shows  it].  I  am  a  good  Catholic. 

Laurinda.   And  yet  a  gypsy! 

Lydia.  But  a  good  gypsy ;  let  me  bring  my  com- 
pany in. 

Gertrude.   How  many  are  in  your  company? 

Lydia.  Four,  Senora  —  three  and  I  make  four.  Oh ! 
surely  you  will  let  my  companions  in  [laughs] — surely 
you  will. 

Gertrude.    Well,  bring  them.        [ LYDIA  departs.] 
I  hope  the  Princess  will  not  hear  all  this  noise  or  find 
this  gypsy  tribe  here. 

Laurinda.  I  suppose  we  will  have  to  prepare  a  nest 
for  them  in  the  room  near  the  iron  gate. 

Gertrude.  Anywhere  will  do ;  I  surely  will  not  trust 
them  in  the  house.  Here  they  come ! 

Enter  LYDIA,  ROSABELLA,  LUCILLA,  disguised;  LYDIA 
half  dancing  and  screaming. 

Lydia.  Here  we  are  Senora.  Rosabella,  Princess 
of  Valencia. 

[ROSABELLA  rushes  into  GERTRUDE'S  arms.] 

Rosabella.  Oh !  kind,  sweet  Gertrude,  thy  ninita  is 
here,  thy  ninita  sees.  Look  at^my  eyes,  Gertrude,  I  see. 


56  THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES 

Gertrude.  Am  I  dreaming,  or  am  I  Gertrude  indeed  ? 

[LuciLLA  goes  to  LAURINDA  and  the  CHILDREN, 
ivho  kiss  her  hand,  laugh  and  talk  in  subdued 
voices.   GERTRUDE  then  throivs  one  arm  around 
AGNES,  ^vhom  she  kisses.] 
And  here  is  Agnes. 

Agnes.   Yes,  your  daughter  is  here  and  lives. 
Gertrude.   Oh,  great  is  God  ! 

Rosabella.  And  His  Holy  Mother,  who  restored 
my  eyes. 

Gertrude.  Isabella,  Isabella!  Run  to  the  Princess. 
Tell  Mina  that  Gertrude  desires  to  see  the  Princess  at 
once.  You  must  return  in  a  short  time ;  hurry,  hurry ! 

[GERTRUDE   all    confused.     ISABELLA    departs   in 
hurry.] 

Rosabella.  How  is  our  mother  ? 

Gertrude.  She  has  promised  by  God  to  love  you ; 
and  how  can  she  help  it  when  she  sees  you  now  —  so 
lovely,  such  beautiful  eyes.  But  that  gypsy! 

Rosabella.  Come,  Lydia.  She  was  our  guide  through 
the  mountains. 

Lucilla.  We  sent  her  ahead  to  find  out  if  the  coast 
was  clear. 

Stella.  Ha,  now  I  see  how  she  could  talk  of  Rosa- 
bella. 

[ROSABELLA  and  all  laugh  as  LYDIA  repeats  her 
verses.] 

Lydia.   Rosabella  —  beautiful  rose  —  Lucilla  —  little 
light  —  Rosabella  is  Lucilla  [boivs  again  and  again]. 
Gertrude.    Oh,  how  happy  I  am !    Now,  how  shall 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES  57 

we  surprise  the  Princess  ?   Ha !  I  know.    Go  into  the 
room  and  throw  off  your  cloaks ;  when  I  call  you,  come. 
Rosabella.    But  don't  be  too  long,  for  I  cannot  en- 
dure it  much  longer;  I  must  see  mamma. 

[Small  bell  rings.   Depart. 

Gertrude.  Quick ;  she  is  coming  —  quick  !  My  — 
what  shall  I  say? 

Enter  PRINCESS. 

Princess.  Gertrude,  what  haste  you  are  in  —  what 
made  you  send  to  the  castle  ? 

Gertrude.  Oh,  Princess,  I  cannot  tell  it !  Noble  lady, 
it  is  too,  too  good. 

Princess.  Come,  do  not  be  foolish,  after  you  have 
spoken  so  wisely.  You're  full  of  excitement;  what  has 
happened  ? 

Gertrude.  Well  —  well  —  children — come — come — 
Rosabella. 

All   enter.     ROSABELLA    and    LUCILLA   rush    to    their 
mother,  ivho  takes  them  in  her  arms. 

Princess.  Oh,  my  children!  [kisses  them  affection- 
ately]. 

Rosabella.    Mamma,  mamma,  see  my  eyes. 

Princess.  And  you  see — you  see !   What  lovely  eyes. 

Rosabella.  It  was  the  dear  Virgin  in  the  Grotto  of 
Lourdes.  Do  you  believe  now,  mamma? 

Rosabella  and  Lucilla  [kneel  before  the  PRINCESS]. 
Forgive  us,  mother,  for  having  left  home;  but  our 
guardian  angels  protected  us. 

Lucilla  [alone].  And  we  prayed  much,  very  much 
for  you. 


58  THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES    ' 

Rosabella.  That  God  may  make  you  happy. 

Princess  [folds  them  in  her  arms  —  to  the  front  of 
the  stage].  Arise,  dearest  children,  it  is  I  who  should 
ask  forgiveness,  for  I  have  been  an  unkind  mother  to 
you ;  but  the  night  is  over,  the  day  has  dawned  —  my 
eyes  are  open,  I  see  my  faults.  In  gratitude  we  shall 
all  visit  Lourdes,  and  at  the  shrine  of  Mary  deposit 
our  gifts. 

Rosabella.  For  Mary  has  cured  my  bodily  blindness 
and  taken  away  the  spiritual  blindness  from  my  mother, 
the  noble  Princess  of  Valencia. 

CURTAIN. 


ACT  V 

SCENE. — Grotto,  with  image  of  Our  Lady. — ROSA- 
BELLA, LUCILLA,  PRINCESS  and  retinue  kneeling  be- 
fore the  shrine  as  curtain  rises. — Lights  are  burning 
before  the  image;  flowers  and  other  offerings  placed 
before  it. 

Rosabella.  Amen!  Now,  Senora,  we  may  speak. 
[Arise.]  This,  then,  is  heaven's  blessed  shrine — Mary's 
abode.  See,  mother,  how  fair  the  Madonna  [points  to 
the  statue].  She  looks  as  lovely  as  Bernadette  described 
her.  Surely,  no  illiterate,  ignorant  peasant  girl  could 
have  portrayed  such  a  vision  of  unearthly  beauty. 

Princess.  Truly,  heaven  alone  could  have  inspired  it. 

Rosabella.  Yes,  mother;  now  you  believe.  [Takes 
one  hand  and  leads  her  to  the  fount. .]  Here  I  bathed 
my  blind  eyes.  In  this  bubbling  spring  I  first  saw  the 
image  of  myself ;  the  happiest  moment  of  my  life,  when 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  59 

I  was  reborn  to  the  world,  wandered  from  darkness 
to  light,  and  learned  to  distinguish  earth  from  sky. 

Lucilla.  Let  me  send  for  Bernadette,  mother;  only 
then  shall  our  joy  be  complete. 

Princess.  Laurinda,  dispatch  our  conveyance  to  the 
town. 

[LAURINDA  bows,  and  leaves  with  LUCILLA.] 

How  surprised  she  will  be  to  find  you  here,  Rosabella. 

LUCILLA  quickly  enters. 

Lucilla.  Bernadette  is  coming  towards  the  grotto. 
Dear  Bernadette,  how  happy! 

Claps  her  hands,  rushes  again  from  the  stage,  and 
returns  with  BERNADETTE. 

Dear  little  mountain  lass,  we  have  kept  our  promises. 
Bernadette,  here  is  Rosabella,  your  friend,  the  Princess 
of  Valencia! 

Bernadette  [astonished  and  bewildered].  Princess 
of  Valencia ! 

Rosabella  [takes  both  of  her  hands].  Yes,  dear. 
Cinderella  has  changed  to  a  princess ;  but  do  not  let 
that  worry  you,  you  are  so  much  the  more  dear  to  me. 
Now  come,  speak  to  my  august  mother  and  mistress. 
Bernadette  —  my  mother. 

Princess  [kisses  her  forehead}.  Child,  you  are  the 
cause  of  my  earthly  happiness ;  you  have  restored  my 
daughter  to  me,  you  have  brightened  my  home,  and 
above  all  you  have  been  instrumental  in  bringing  faith, 
the  true  faith,  to  my  heart.  How  shall  I — how  can  I 
sufficiently  reward  you? 


OO  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

Bernadette.  Do  not  speak  thus,  noble  lady.  Look 
upon  that  beautiful  countenance  [points  to  the  image], 
the  shadow  of  reality.  She,  whose  image  it  is,  has 
deigned  to  appear  to  me  in  this  cave.  Heaven  guided 
your  blind  daughter  to  this  place,  and  by  Divine  power 
she  was  cured — I  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.  The  Queen 
of  Heaven  has  given  the  sign,  and  shown  to  the  world 
that  no  mere  phantom  appeared  to  me.  I  rejoice  with 
you,  illustrious  lady,  if  a  peasant's  joy  dares  to  give 
expression,  if  it  would  or  could  increase  your  joy. 

Princess.  You  shall  no  longer  remain  a  peasant. 
You  shall  come  with  us  to  our  ancestral  castles,  share 
the  earthly  honors  of  my  daughters,  and  teach  them  by 
your  noble  example  to  serve  God  and  His  Holy  Mother. 

Rosabella  and  Lucilla.   Yes,  you  must  come  with  us. 

Bernadette.  It  would  break  my  heart  to  leave  my 
peaceful  village,  my  thatched  cottage,  my  aged  mother, 
and,  more  than  all,  this  sacred  grotto.  Your  promises 
are  generous  and  tempting,  but  that  I  should  accept 
them  —  never ! 

Rosabella  [affectionately].  Sister  —  let  us  call  you 
by  that  name  —  sister,  pray  do  not  refuse  my  good 
mother's  offer;  come  with  us. 

Bernadette.  I  would  do  wrong  in  accepting.  I  was 
born  a  humble  peasant,  reared  in  the  heart  of  the 
Pyrenees ;  poor  I  am  now,  and  poor  I  shall  remain ; 
and  when  I  die  a  little  wooden  cross  shall  tell  the 
history  of  my  uneventful  life. 

Princess.  Do  not  speak  so  sadly!  Your  life  has  not 
been  uneventful.  Children  upon  their  mother's  knee 
shall,  in  ages  to  come,  learn  the  story  of  Bernadette, 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  6l 

the  Shepherdess  of  Lourdes ;  and  each  building  the 
piety  of  the  faithful  shall  raise  here  will  proclaim  your 
name.  You  are  thrice  blessed ! 

Bernadette.  Too  much,  too  much,  illustrious  lady ! 
I  am  unworthy  of  this  praise.  I  am  only  a  weak  instru- 
ment in  the  hands  of  God.  It  should  mark  out  for  me 
the  path  of  virtue  and  piety,  of  charity  and  love  divine. 

Princess.  If  you  are  determined,  then,  to  remain 
here,  at  least  let  me  offer  you  some  little  token  of  my 
gratitude;  it  will  help  you  in  your  poverty,  it  will 
assist  your  invalid  parents.  Bernadette,  accept  this 
trifle  [offers  her  gold  in  a  silver  case]. 

Bernadette  [makes  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  runs 
like  a  frightened  deer].  Gold,  gold,  gold  !  [Falls  on  her 
knees  before  the  Princess.  ]  How  can  you  tempt  me, 
noble  lady!  Gold  has  destroyed  young  and  innocent 
hearts ;  gold  has  been  the  ruin  of  the  world.  I  need  no 
gold  to  support  my  life;  my  Father,  who  is  in  heaven, 
feeds  the  birds  of  the  air  and  the  fishes  of  the  water- 
He  feeds  me,  too.  Do  not  tempt  a  poor  girl.  I  need 
no  gold. 

Princess  [puts  her  arm  about  her  neck}.  Noble  girl, 
good  girl !  You  are  indeed  worthy  that  Heaven's  Queen 
should  have  displayed  her  diadem  of  glory  before  you. 
No  wonder  you  despise  gold,  after  beholding  the 
eternal  treasures ;  yet  receive  it,  not  as  a  gift  for  your- 
self, but  for  this  sacred  shrine. 

Bernadette  [rises}.  Spare  me  even  that.  There  is  a 
good  lady  living  in  our  Province,  the  Governor's  wife; 
she  witnessed  the  miracle  worked  in  favor  of  your 
daughter,  then  in  disguise.  She  avows  the  cause  of 


62  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF    LOURDES 

this  shrine,  and  hopes  to  be  instrumental  in  erecting  a 
chapel  as  the  Virgin  Mary  commanded. 

Princess.  Well,  be  it  as  you  say.  But  you  must 
receive  a  gift  in  remembrance  of  God's  great  deed. 

Rosabella.  Yes,  sister,  I  have  brought  you  this,  only 
a  small  cross  and  chain  blessed  by  the  Cardinal  of 
Toledo;  wear  it  for  the  sake  of  Rosabella,  the  blind 
Princess. 

Bernadette.  How  can  I  refuse  you,  Senorita ;  but  let 
it  be  the  only  gift  the  Shepherdess  of  Lourdes  shall 
accept. 

[Bows,  and  ROSABELLA  throws  the  chain  over  her 

head.  She  kisses  the  cross.] 

Rosabella.  That's  a  good  girl.  Now  come  and  see 
my  dear  Gertrude,  of  whom  I  told  you,  who  first 
brought  me  here  [leads  her  to  GERTRUDE].  Gertrude! 

GERTRUDE  comes  from  among  the  ladies. 

Gertrude.  God  bless  thee!  I  feared  I  might  be 
deprived  the  privilege  of  speaking  to  thee.  Thou  hast 
been  so  good  to  my  Ninita;  God  bless  thee!  \tries  to 
kiss  BERNADETTE'S  hands]. 

Bernadette.  You  have  a  true  motherly  heart,  Ger- 
trude. You  have  been  a  kind  mother  to  the  amiable 
Princess  —  heaven  has  rewarded  you. 

Gertrude.  Yes,  a  thousand  times,  surely.  Oh!  how 
happy  everything  would  be  in  our  beautiful  castle  if 
thou  wast  with  Ninita  and  Princess  Lucilla. 

Bernadette.  No  more  of  this,  Gertrude;  I  have  a 
poor  mother  whom  I  cannot  leave  —  and  my  Heavenly 
Mother. 


THE    SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES  63 

Enter  MME.  MASSAY,  MLLE.  VERGEZ,  MME.  DOZONS. 
Others  withdraw.  BERNADETTE  runs  towards  MME. 
MASSAY. 

Bernadette.  Good  morning,  Madame  Massay.  What 
a  happy  coincidence ;  the  poor  blind  gypsy  has  changed 
into  a  Princess  —  Rosabella  of  Valencia  [leads  her  to 
the  PRINCESS]. 

All.  Is  it  possible ! 

Mme.  Massay.  Kindly  pardon,  Princess,  my  ill 
behavior  on  a  former  occasion. 

Mme.  Dosons  and  Mile.  Verges.  We  too  must  ask 
pardon. 

Rosabella.  You  treated  me  as  I  deserved,  thus  you 
are  certainly  excused.  I  also  thank  Madame  for  the 
coin  she  gave  the  blind  gypsy. 

Mme.  Massay.  The  Princess  has  not  forgotten  it. 
And  now  I  extend  to  the  illustrious  Senorita  the  free- 
dom of  the  Province. 

Rosabella.  Many  thanks.  It  will  no  doubt  include 
my  mother,  the  Princess  of  Valencia,  and  her  retinue. 

[PRINCESS  bozvs.] 

Mme.  Massay.  Doubly  so;  for  I  have  heard  of  the 
great  and  influential  house  of  Valencia  through  my 
husband,  the  Governor.  I  rejoice  to  welcome  you 
under  such  happy  auspices. 

Princess.  A  pilgrimage  of  gratitude  to  our  dear 
Mother  who  has  cured  my  child. 

Mme.  Massay.  This  miracle  had  its  effect.  It  is 
known  throughout  Frante  and  Spain.  Emperor  Napo- 
leon has  today  issued  a  proclamation  permitting  the 


64  THE   SHEPHERDESS   OF   LOURDES 

erection  of  a  basilica  on  this  spot,  and  the  Church 
authorities  confirmed  the  miracles.  Truly  Mary  has 
appeared  here. 

Princess.  Receive  this  gold — 40,000  francs — I  had 
destined  for  Bernadette,  but  which  she  refused.  Accept 
it,  noble  lady,  for  the  erection  of  the  church  [gives  it 
to  her]. 

Mme.  Massay.  God  will  reward  your  generosity  as 
He  rewarded  the  piety  of  the  humble  Shepherdess  of 
Lourdes,  and  the  great  faith  of  the  blind  Princess.  For 
generations  this  place  shall  be  a  refuge  for  the  sick, 
the  lame,  the  blind.  Thousands  will  be  cured.  Pilgrim- 
ages without  number,  and  tokens  of  gratitude  and 
religious  fervor  shall  arrive  from  every  nation  of  the 
world. 

Bernadette  {going  to  the  front  of  the  stage].  All 
generations  shall  call  her  blessed  who  sanctified  this 
place  and  consecrated  it  by  her  presence,  who  has 
taught  me  by  what  sweet  prayer  we  should  venerate 
her,  the  "Holy  Rosary,"  and  by  what  title  we  shall 
name  her  when  she  answered  my  humble  request  by 
saying:  "I  am  the  Immaculate  Conception." 

[All  turn  tozvards  the  Grotto,  leaving  the  centre  of 
stage  free,  and  sing  the  hymn  of  praise.  VILLAGE 
CHILDREN  bring  flowers,  others  take  zvater  from 
the  fountain.  All  group  themselves  gracefully 
on  the  stage,  which  is  gorgeously  illuminated.] 

CURTAIN. 


FINIS. 


rsttF.  OBKAKY.  COS 


or  THE  UNKNOWN  MARTYR 
A  DRAMA  IN  FOUR  ACTS 

By.    V.    REV.    F.    FELIX,    O.S.B.,  D.D. 

Author  of  "Pontia,"  "Shepherdess  of  Lourdes,"  "Walburga." 

ADAPTED  FOR  FEMALE  CHARACTERS 

PATRICIA  is  not  a  historic  character  in  the  strict  sense  of 
the  word;  I  placed  the  seences  into  the  period  of  St.  Cecilia, 
whom  by  chance  I  introduced.  It  is  however  an  incontrover- 
tible fact  that  thousands  of  Christians  of  either  sex  died  for 
Christ  during  the  cruel  persecutions;  the  mystery  of  whose 
glorious  lives  and  deaths  will  only  be  revealed  on  Judgment 
Day.  Hence  what  1  portrayed  in  my  drama  might  actually 
have  taken  place  in  one  or  the  other  of  God's  saints,  and 
history  therefore  will  not  suffer. — The  Author. 

12  Mo.  Paper  Cover  25  Cents  Net 

The  Venetian  Vendetta 

or  THE  TWO  BROTHERS 
A  DRAMA  IN  THREE  ACTS 

By  a  Priest  of  the  Diocese  of  Alton,  111. 

ADAPTED  FOR  MALE  CHARACTERS 

In  giving  this  drama,  "THE  VENETIAN  VENDETTA",  or 
"THE  Two  BROTHERS,  "  to  the  public,  I  have  followed  the  ad- 
vice of  my  friends,  who,  upon  seeing  it  staged,  persuaded  me 
to  give  it  in  print  as  being  a  suitable  play  for  pupils  of  Paro- 
chial Schools  and  Young  Men's  Sodalities.  Prominent  Cath- 
olic Institutions  often  have  laid  stress  upon  the  scarcity  of 
dramas,  Catholic  in  tone,  suitable  for  entertainments,  gradu- 
ating exercises  and  the  like. 

12  Mo.  Paper  Cover  25  Cents  Net 

JOHN  MURPHY  COMPANY 

Publishers 
200  W.  LOMBARD  ST.  BALTIMORE,  MD. 


WALBURGA 

OR 

FROM  DARKNESS  TO  LIGHT 


A  DRAMA  IN  FOUR  ACTS 


By  V.  REV.  F.  FELIX,  O.S.B.,  D.D. 

Author  of  "Pontia,"  "Shepherdess  of  Lourdes,"  "Patricia. 


ADAPTED  FOR  FEMALE  CHARACTERS 


Jt  takes  us  back   i  .  ,f  Faith. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  author  in  compiling  this  histori- 
cal sketch,  for  it  is  not  a  drama,  in  the  str;<  of  the 
word;  rather,  a  livin.  ntation  of  the  life  and 
time  of  the  great  Fnglish  saint,  \Valbi; 

It  gr,  •  •  )  i  vent   life  at  an  age  \\hen 

id  noble  ladies  thought    it    an    honor    to 

be  enrolled  among  the  humble   handmaids    of    the    Lord.      It 

nary  spirit  of  royal  and  great    women 

ficing  comfort  and  homes  in  order  to  convert   the  Barbarians 
of  oilier  lands.     All  historically  accurate.      This  book  will  be 
welcomed  with  delight  by  the    venerable    Sisterhoods    in    this 
country,    as    it    represents    the  noble  work  of  their  an* 
the  Catholic  Nuns  and  5  :it  ages. 

12  Mo.  Paper  Cover  35  Cents  Net 


JOHN  MURPHY  COMPANY 

Publishers 
200  W.  LOMBARD  ST.  BALTIMORE,  MD. 


